(Onderstaand een overzicht van de luchtsteun in Uruzgan door Amerikaanse en Britse vliegtuigen in de maand juni. In de dagelijkse Air Power Summary worden details gegeven van enkele van de gevlogen ‘close air support-missies, meestal betreffen die details minder dan tien procent van het totaal. De geografische aanduidingen zijn meestal niet erg precies: ‘in/near Tarin Kowt‘ kan bijvoorbeeld doelwitten betreffen in het hele district Tarin Kowt)
1 juni:
Near Tarin Kowt, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle and A-10 Thunderbolt II conducted shows of force and launched flares to stop an enemy attack against a coalition forward base. The shooting stopped after the aircraft made their presence known, allowing base personnel to regroup and resume operations.
3 juni:
A Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet conducted a show of force over a friendly patrol area in Tarin Kowt to establish airpower and coalition forces presence. The aircraft added an additional layer of security ensuring ground troops could carry out their mission without anti-Afghan forces instigating combat.
An F/A-18C carried out a show of force over the heads of a group of personnel suspected of emplacing an improvised explosive device near a bridge. The individuals ran off as soon as the aircraft arrived, thwarting their plans.
4 juni:
In Tarin Kowt, a large engagement occurred after anti-Afghan forces were detected operating an illegal checkpoint along a local highway. A Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet and an Air Force B-1B Lancer responded, hitting groups of enemy gunmen overwatching the road in a treeline using GBU-38s, then targeting a second group in an open field with a GBU-31.
5 juni
An Air Force MQ-1 Predator used a Hellfire missile to take out a group of insurgents who had conducted an RPG attack against a friendly unit near Tarin Kowt. The individuals were identified carrying a rocket launcher prior to the weapon release.
8 juni
Near Tarin Kowt, a Royal Air Force GR-9 Harrier and Navy F/A-18C Hornets performed shows of force and expended flares over a ridge where enemy forces were setting up for an attack. A friendly forces convoy had spotted the enemy and asked the aircraft to show their presence to deter the attackers.
10 juni
Another A-10 and a coalition aircraft targeted anti-Afghan forces personnel with strafes and GBU-38s in Tarin Kowt. The jets struck groups of enemy gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and assault rifles after the shooters instigated a firefight.
Near Tarin Kowt, a Royal Air Force GR-9 Harrier and a coalition aircraft flew shows of force after a friendly unit came under heavy fire. The arrival of the aircraft caused the enemy to reduce their shooting, allowing the unit to withdraw and regroup.
13 juni
An F-15E near Tarin Kowt bombed an enemy spotter who was spotted monitoring and radioing in activity just outside a coalition forward base. The aircraft also performed tactical reconnaissance for coalition ground forces at the base, scouting for enemy locations outside the base perimeter. Later, an additional F-15E flew a show of force to deter another enemy attack.
In the vicinity of Tarin Kowt, an A-10 Thunderbolt II flew shows of force, expending flares, to stop an imminent enemy attack on a coalition unit. The jet also provided armed overwatch for the unit as it proceeded to its objective.
14 juni
In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer and a coalition aircraft conducted strikes near Tarin Kowt in response to a firefight between Afghan and coalition units and an anti-Afghan force. The aircraft employed guided bomb unit -38s, GBU-31s, and a GBU-12 to strike enemy fighting positions and a tactical command post which were scattered through the area. Enemy personnel offered heavy opposition, opening fire with assault weapons and a crew-served machine gun position, until the aircraft arrived and destroyed their positions and emplacements.
15 juni
Coalition aircraft flew multiple shows of force near Tarin Kowt in Southern Afghanistan to deter enemy activity. The shows of force allowed friendly forces to proceed on their mission without any interference from the enemy.
17 juni
In Afghanistan, B-1B Lancers conducted strikes over Tarin Kowt, using guided bomb unit-31 and -38s to hit a group of anti-Afghan forces fighting positions in a creek bed, along a ridgeline and in an orchard. Enemy personnel were actively engaging Afghan and coalition troops with assault rifle fire until they were stopped by the strikes.
18 juni
A Royal Air Force GR-9 Harrier provided backup for an Afghan and coalition unit under fire in Tarin Kowt. Friendly ground troops taking cover called in the strike as bullets ricocheted around them. The Harrier responded, locking in and dropping a Paveway munition on advancing anti-Afghan gunmen. The aircraft then scouted the area for additional enemy forces as the friendly unit regrouped and pushed on with the mission. In the same area, a B-1B Lancer carried out a show of force to prevent additional anti-Afghan forces aggression.
In Oruzgan, a B-1B flew a show of force, expending several flares over the area to provide emphasis, stopping enemy personnel from firing RPGs and machine guns at an approaching friendly unit. The large bomber’s flyover led the hostile gunmen to stop shooting and flee the area.
22 juni
In Tarin Kowt, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle conducted a show of force as an Afghan and coalition foot patrol returned to base. The additional presence of airpower prevented a confrontation with enemy gunmen massing in the area for an attack.
25 juni
Near Tarin Kowt, an F/A-18C employed GBU-38s against the entrance of a cave when anti-Afghan gunmen using it for a natural bunker started firing from it. The bomb closed the cave and eliminated the hostile position’s threat to Afghan security force personnel. In a separate engagement in the same area, an Air Force B-1B Lancer and an F/A-18E conducted shows of force preventing an enemy attack after a group of anti-Afghan forces was spotted readying for an ambush.
26 juni
A Royal Air Force GR-4 Tornado and an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle conducted shows of force in Tarin Kowt, expending flares, in order to deter enemy forces from carrying out additional attacks. Anti-Afghan gunmen had fired on an Afghan and coalition convoy, disabling a vehicle. The aircraft circled the area, spotting threats for ground forces and providing top cover.
(Bron: US Air Force, www.af.mil)
