Coalition aircraft support troops in Operation Matador

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SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Air Force aircraft were among those providing close-air support and intelligence to coalition troops May 7 through 14 in western Iraq as part of Operation Matador.

"Purple air was critical to the success of Matador,” said Marine Lt. Col. Scott Campbell, commanding officer for the 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company. “You never knew if you were talking to Air Force, Navy or Marine aviators. You always got the same result, bombs on target."

The aircraft were involved in a seven-day operation concentrated on cities near the border with Syria. Many foreign fighters allied with terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi slip across the porous Syrian-Iraqi border, Pentagon officials said. The operation concentrated on the Euphrates River cities of Karabilah, Ramana and Ubaydi.

The region is used as a staging area for foreign fighters who cross the Syrian border illegally through smuggling routes known as "rat lines." It is there that these foreign fighters receive weapons and equipment to conduct attacks, such as suicide missions and assassination or kidnapping of political or civilian targets, in the more populated key cities of Baghdad, Ramadi, Fallujah and Mosul, military officials said.

Primarily in the vicinity of Al Qaim, F-15E Strike Eagles, MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles and Marine Corps FA-18 Hornets were engaged against anti-Iraqi forces. The strikes resulted from close coordination with coalition ground forces requesting immediate air support.

“Our job was to provide close air-support and intel to coalition troops in direct contact with anti-Iraqi forces,” said Maj. Gen. Norman R. Seip, deputy combined force air component commander. “We responded forcefully while limiting collateral damage.”

Air Force and Marine Corps aircraft also flew intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions that aided pilots, mission planners and coalition troops. Global Hawks, U-2s and fighter aircraft performing reconnaissance were some of the aircraft involved in the mission.

Although Operation Matador has concluded, coalition air forces remain postured to respond to anti-Iraqi forces’ activities, officials said. (Courtesy of U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs)