CENTAF releases airpower summary Published July 15, 2006 SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for July 15. In Afghanistan July 14, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and French Air Force M-2000s provided close-air support for coalition forces taking small arms fire from Taliban extremists near Tarin Kowt. The A-10s conducted strafing passes, expending cannon rounds and ending the engagement. In a separate engagement near Tarin Kowt, Air Force A-10s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists and conducted a strike on a suspected weapons cache. The A-10s expended a precision-guided 500-pound bomb and conducted strafing passes, expending cannon rounds and ending the engagement. 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 27 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-15E Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to coalition troops engaged with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Hawijah. Air Force F-16s also provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Baghdad. Additionally, 13 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. In total, coalition aircraft flew 42 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. 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 160 airlift sorties, delivered 550 tons of cargo and transported 3,310 passengers. This included about 65,590 pounds of troop re-supply airdropped in central Afghanistan. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Japan and Canada flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On July 13, Air Force, French Air Force and Royal Air Force tankers flew 40 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.4 million pounds of fuel.