Iedere dag geeft de Amerikaanse luchtmacht een overzicht uit van de luchtsteun die in Afghanistan en Irak is verleend. Onderstaand het aantal acties in Uruzgan in de maand maart. Twee opmerkingen: a)
het gaat om een selectie van het totaal aantal keren dat luchtsteun werd verleend, en b) opvallend is dat er vaak alleen maar sprake is van een show of force (letterlijk: machtsvertoon), waarbij geen wapens worden ingezet maar toestellen bijvoorbeeld dreigend laag overvliegen. Dit soort informatie is niet of nauwelijks te vinden op de websites van het ministerie van Defensie en ISAF. Wat dit betreft doen de Amerikanen een stuk minder geheimzinnig dan Den Haag of Kabul (ISAF-hoofdkwartier).
3 maart: In the Tarin Kowt area, a Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet flew a show of force supporting a coalition ground operation. Coalition troops meeting with Afghan tribal leaders requested the show of force to add an additional level of security presence and deterrence against anti-Afghan actions.
7 maart: In the vicinity of Tarin Kowt, Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets coordinated with coalition and Afghan National Army ground forces during an assault on a cluster of enemy compounds. The Super Hornets hit the target buildings with guided bomb unit-38s and a GBU-12, then executed a show of force to suppress enemy fire as friendly units moved onto their objective.
Air Force, Navy and coalition aircraft executed shows of force to deter enemy activity during coalition and Afghan National Army operations in locations around Afghanistan, including Sheykhabad, Orgun, Tarin Kowt and Ghazni. The maneuvers deterred anti-Afghan forces’ attacks and restricted enemy activities, while providing increased security and freedom of action for friendly operations and local residents.
10 maart: A Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet conducted a show of force and expended flares near Tarin Kowt for a friendly convoy under fire from enemy forces. The show of force caused the enemy to stop firing and retreat from the area. The convoy completed its mission successfully.
11 maart: In Tarin Kowt, an Air Force B-1B Lancer and F-15E expended flares as they flew shows of force near a coalition forward base. A group of enemy personnel was gathered for an attack on the base, but were surprised and fled the area after the jets arrived.
18 maart: Air Force, Navy and coalition aircraft performed shows of force in the Asadabad, Lashkar Gah and Tarin Kowt areas to deter possible enemy attacks on friendly ground forces.
20 maart: Coalition aircraft, Strike Eagles, and an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II performed shows of force in the Ghazni, Bagram, Shurakian and Tarin Kowt areas to deter the threat of enemy aggression on coalition ground forces and convoys.
24 maart: In Afghanistan, Navy F/A-18-E and -F Super Hornets carried out shows of force and used guided bomb unit-38s against enemy personnel on a mountain near Tarin Kowt. Anti-afghan forces had conducted an ambush on a friendly convoy, beginning the attack with an improvised explosive device before opening fire. The jets destroyed the enemy positions.
25 maart: In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-38s against anti-Afghan firing positions after enemy forces engaged coalition ground troops. The strike, near Tarin Kowt, impacted the target and ended enemy hostile fire. A coalition aircraft also performed a show of force in the area to deter additional enemy activity.
27 maart: A B-1B Lancer used guided bomb unit-38s to destroy a series of enemy fighting positions and a crew-served heavy machine gun near Tarin Kowt. The bomber initiated its run following an enemy ambush from the positions against a coalition unit.
29 maart: An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and a Navy Super Hornet provided shows of force to coalition units as deterrent to enemy activity as those units travelled through the Bagram and Tarin Kowt areas.
