A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon breaks off and flies back toward its patrol area after concluding refueling operations with a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron Detatchment 1, over Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, March 11, 2018. (Gregory Brook/Air Force)
Military.com: US Airstrikes Hit Decade-Long High Amid Peace Efforts in Afghanistan
The U.S. military conducted more airstrikes in Afghanistan last year than in the three previous years combined, making 2018 the most kinetic year for airstrikes in the country in at least a decade.
U.S. fighters, bombers, attack aircraft and drones released 7,362 weapons in 2018, according to the latest U.S. Air Forces Central Command airpower statistics summary published last week.
The second-highest year on record was in 2011, when U.S. assets dropped 5,411 weapons, according to available figures dating back to 2009.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: The U.S. is sending the signal that its participation in the war will not change .... Acting defense secretary says no orders to reduce forces in Afghanistan (ABC News). But there are signals that current U.S. war policy in Afghanistan may change if peace talks proceed .... Shanahan talks U.S. endgame in visit to Afghanistan (Politico).
