CENTAF releases airpower summary Published May 24, 2006 SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. In Afghanistan May 23, B-1B Lancers and a MQ-1 Predator, French air force Super Etendards and Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support in two separate engagements to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Gereshk and Tarin Kowt. In the first engagement near Gereshk, coalition forces engaged Taliban extremists organizing an ambush. A B-1B and four RAF GR-7s responded with the B-1B dropping fourteen precision-guided JDAMs, successfully ending the engagement. In the second engagement near Tarin Kowt, coalition forces were fired upon with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars by Taliban extremists. A B-1B and Predator aircraft, two French Super Etendards and four RAF GR-7s responded dropping precision-guided JDAMs, firing CRV-7 rockets and a Hellfire missile, killing 24 extremists and ending the engagement. In total, coalition aircraft flew 34 Operation Enduring Freedom close-air-support missions. The missions supported coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and presence route patrols. Ten Air Force and RAF intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 54 Operation Iraqi Freedom close-air-support missions. The missions supported coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. F-16 Fighting Falcons and Navy F/A-18 Hornets provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Amarah, Al Asad, Al Taji, Balad and Samarra. In addition, 18 Air Force and Navy ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Air Force and Navy fighter aircraft also flew in non-traditional ISR roles with their electro-optical and infrared sensors. C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intratheater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew approximately 150 airlift sorties, delivered almost 440 tons of cargo and transported nearly 3,330 passengers. Coalition C-130 crews from Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom flew in support of either OIF or OEF. On May 22, Air Force and RAF tankers flew 36 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.4 million pounds of fuel.