Air Force begins re-deploying some forces

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  • By Capt. Sam Highley
  • Air Force Print News
The Air Force has started re-deploying some its assets supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to defense officials.

The return of B-2 Spirit, F-117 Nighthawk and some F-15 Eagle aircraft has already begun, the officials said. It is all part of a process to re-deploy forces no longer required for OIF, so that the deployed aircraft can be fixed, the airmen can rest, and the forces can "reconstitute for whatever comes next," they said.

The Joint Staff's vice director for operations, Army Maj. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, said during a Pentagon press briefing April 14 that the air war in Iraq has slowed in recent days.

"(U.S. Central Command Commander Gen. Tommy Franks) is free to make decisions to re-deploy those assets that he no longer feels he needs for this part of the operation, and he is doing that in selected cases now," McChrystal said. "Clearly those assets which were focused on our high intensity air campaign would be the most likely initially."

Navy air assets are also starting the re-deployment process, McChrystal said. April 14 was the last day that aircraft from all five carrier battle groups will fly missions in to Iraq.

"As the 5th Fleet commander mentioned over the weekend, a couple of (the battle groups) will be departing the region over the course of the next few days," he said.

A change on the battlefield has caused the slow down, evidenced by coalition air forces dropping less than 200 precision-guided munitions in the last 24 hours to support operations on the ground, McChrystal said.

"I would anticipate that the major combat engagements are over because the major Iraqi units on the ground cease to show coherence," he said. "I think we will move in to a phase where it is smaller, albeit sharp, fights."