CENTAF releases air power summary

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 19.

In Afghanistan July 18, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small arms fire near Musah Qal'eh. An A-10 expended guided bomb unit-12s on enemy positions, ending the engagement.

In a separate engagement also near Musah Qal'eh, Air Force A-10s and a B-1 provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small arms and sniper fire. The B-1 expended a GBU-38 on an enemy sniper position, ending the engagement.

Air Force A-10s, a B-1B and Royal Air Force GR-7s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Lashkar Gah. The B-1 expended GBU-38s on the enemy positions, ending the engagement.

Air Force A-10s also provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-coalition forces near Asadabab and Ghazni, and a B-1 provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-coalition forces near Tarin Kowt.

Additionally, eight Air Force, French Air Force and Royal Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 25 close-air support missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These missions included support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small arms fire near Baghdad, Basra and Tall Afar.

Additionally, 14 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 44 close-air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

On July 17, Air Force rescue and medical crews on HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters flew two medical evacuation missions in support of OEF. They transported six U.S. and three Australian military members with injuries requiring urgent care.

Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew approximately 160 airlift sorties, delivered almost 470 tons of cargo and transported 2,630 passengers. This included 19,180 pounds of humanitarian civil assistance in central Afghanistan.

Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada, Japan and Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF.

On July 17, Air Force, French Air Force and Royal Air Force tankers flew 39 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.4 million pounds of fuel.