NATO Secretary General - Doorstep statement at Defence Ministers Meeting,13 JUN 2024 - YouTube

"F-16s will be in Ukraine by the summer", NATO Admiral Rob Bauer in an in-depth interview YouTube

with Rain TV's Ekaterina Kotrikadze and ADL Rob Bauer,Royal Netherlands Navy,Chairman,NATO Military Committee Rain TV is Russian expatriate broadcast journalism.

Images of US Air Force's new B-21 Raider stealth bomber on its first flight on 10 November 2023

A brief film of the undisclosed first flight is followed by stills and earlier footage of the unveiling.The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider was escorted by a Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.A Reuters journalist was monitoring the activity at the Palmdale,California Plant 42 facility in the Mojave Desert.Plant 42 is owned by the US Air Force and operated as a component of nearby Edwards Air Force Base.It is a Government-Owned,Contractor-Operated facility (GOCO).Besides developing classified aircraft,it also services existing aircraft such as the B-2 Spirit strategic bomber.Lockheed Martin (LMT),Northrop Grumman (NOC)

US Air Force, NATO. Powerful F-16C fighters refuel in the air during an exercise in Finland

Dozens F-16 Fighter Jets Arrive Near Russian Border Amid Russian Nuclear Threats

Turkey Plans to Upgrade Its F-16 Cockpits in $259M Deal with Lockheed - Avionics International

Turkey Plans to Upgrade Its F-16 Cockpits in $259M Deal with Lockheed - Avionics International: Turkey secured a $259M foreign military sale agreement with Lockheed, approved by the U.S. State Department, to upgrade its fleet of F-16 fighters. Lockheed Martin (LMT)

Allied Air Command:Combined Air Operations for the Eastern Flank

On 9 March 2023,Allied Air Command led a dynamic,long-range operation above Romania.The Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejon,Spain coordinated Allied bomber and fighter aircraft,NATO said.Romania is one of the Allies closest to the Ukraine War,being on NATO's Eastern Flank.During the drill,Italian Eurofighter Typhoons and US Air Force Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles supported by USAF B-52H strategic bombers carried out a simulated combined air offensive against adversary Air Defence systems simulated by Romanian F-16 Fighting Falcons,Spanish F/A-18 Hornets and the French Mamba Surface-Based Air and Missile Defence system (SBAMD) deployed in Romania. The participants were pitted against an intricate scenario based on near-peer threats,thus demonstrating Alliance readiness and capability for air control.The Allied units practised techniques,tactics and procedures (TTPs) designed to defeat a complex set of potential real-world challenges in a congested air domain,applying NATO standards against a full spectrum of threats.The operation was part of a programme of regular and repeated Vigilance Activities aimed at shielding NATO's Eastern Flank and reassuring Allies in the region.* The Boeing B-52Hs are currently on rotational deployment to Moron Air Base (pronounced Mor-OWN),Spain.Moron AB provides expeditionary combat support as an expandable Forward Operating Base to support transient/bed-down of aircraft operations;to provide staging of aircraft and personnel in support of US and NATO plans,exercises and contingency operations;and to provide Base Operating Support to tenant units. The B-52Hs at Moron are out of the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron,Minot Air Force Base,North Dakota.Such Bomber Task Force missions familiarise air crews with air bases and operations in different geographic combatant command Areas of Responsibility,validating our always-ready global strike capability.* Boeing (BA)

National Security Crisis:New Details About Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)

Rear Admiral John Kirby,US Navy retired,Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House,held a briefing on 13 February 2023 for the press corps at the White House.China has had a long-standing programme of balloon surveillance.These balloons have provided a limited additive capability to the People's Liberation Army.We are finally trying to understand such Unidentified Aerial Phenomena better.We have been more closely scrutinising slow-moving,high altitude objects that are hard to detect.In each instance,we have followed the same basic course.Those objects whose altitude posed a threat to civilian aircraft were shot down immediately.There are no active tracks today.We are working with our Allies on tracking UAP.Interagency teams have been formed to deal with the UAP issue within the US Government.The fourth object, which came down in Lake Huron,came down in the Canadian part of Lake Huron and we had good communications with our Canadian Allies.It had been shot down by Wisconsin Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons.* In general,with a balloon,as opposed to a spy satellite,you could get better fidelity photos;you can loiter and soak in a little bit more information.NORAD and NORTHCOM commander General Glen Van Herck is using established protocols.The AIM-9X Sidewinder missile is the safest,most effective way to bring objects down,in his judgement.A fighter jet's cannon could threaten civilian aircraft.Some of the Chinese spy balloon's electronics have already been recovered,along with some of its structure.Why were the three weekend objects shot down?They were unmanned,not being controlled,posing a threat to civilian aircraft,and could have surveillance capabilities with which to threaten national security.* The US Coast Guard is assisting the Canadian Coast Guard at Lake Huron.It is believed the wreckage of this fourth object is in deep water.The object had an octagonal shape with strings attached to the bottom.There is no reason for the American people to worry about extraterrestrial craft.There is no indication of such a thing.The basic parameters of the objects have been seen before.Some of them could be small rigid-sided dirigibles,pointed out former FAA official Mary Schiavo.It's nothing new.* The US has been aware of China's balloon programme since 2021.We're seeing more objects because we're looking more.We have modified the radar filters to scrutinise low speed,high altitude objects.* CNN has reported that the Beaufort Sea,Alaska object and the Yukon Territory object had small metal cylinders attached to them (possibly surveillance payloads).The Beaufort Sea object was metallic and broke into pieces when it hit the sea ice.The Yukon object was a small metallic balloon with a payload that had traveled over sensitive US sites.The Lake Huron object descended slowly into the water when it was shot down.* Update:The US Navy and Coast Guard have almost finished recovering the Chinese spy balloon off South Carolina.They will now move out further from the coast to finish up.

Putin warns after Finland and Sweden invited to join NATO - CNBC

Invasion Alert Elevated,US Forces Burgeoning in Europe

A growing number and variety of US military units are deploying to Europe.This is in the context of a cascading sense of alarm in the Intelligence Community about the increasing likelihood of Russian military action against Ukraine as soon as this weekend.Russia has relentlessly continued to augment its forces daily along Ukraine's borders until approximately 130,000 troops now surround its smaller neighbour on three sides.The outlook is so grave that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made a special plea on 11 February 2022 before journalists in the White House press room that non-diplomat US citizens currently in Ukraine should evacuate the country within 48 hours.There are an estimated 30,000 such persons,but only 7500 of them have formally registered with the US Embassy.In the event of a Russian invasion,they will not be rescued by US troops.They must leave now by air,car,bus or rail. A major Russian invasion of Ukraine could terrifyingly begin with bombs being dropped and ballistic missiles launched-weapons which won't discriminate among victims,Mr.Sullivan pointed out.* Today Secretary of Defense General Lloyd Austin III,US Army retired,signed deployment orders for three thousand more members of the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg,North Carolina as directed by US President Joseph R. Biden.The troops are being sent to Poland,joining 1700 other members of the Division already there or in process of deploying there.In addition,the headquarters unit of XVIII Airborne Corps has already deployed to Germany and 1,000 members of 2nd Cavalry Armored Brigade Combat Team have been deployed to Romania. The Soldiers deployed to Poland have been arriving at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Southeast Poland some 60 mi/96.5 km from the Ukraine border.* At the same time,the US Navy has deployed four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers from the US East Coast to the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility (Europe): USS Donald Cook (DDG 75);USS Mitscher (DDG 57);USS The Sullivans (DDG 68);and USS Gonzalez (DDG 66).These are in addition to the four other US Navy guided-missile destroyers forward deployed to Rota,Spain.All four of the new arrivals in the Europan theatre have ballistic missile defence capability,and the USS Harry Truman Carrier Strike Group with its massive firepower is on patrol in the Mediterranean Sea. For its part,Russia has deployed six amphibious landing ships to the Black Sea and two guided-missile cruisers to the Mediterranean.* Among airpower deployments,US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons arrived at Fetesti Airbase,Romania today to enhance NATO'S collective defence posture and support its Air Policing Mission,NATO Allied Air Command said.They are from 52nd Fighter Wing,Spangdahlen Airbase,Germany.These warplanes will work closely with Allies in the Black Sea Region to reinforce regional security during the Ukraine crisis,completing a range of air-to-air manoeuvres with NATO Allies in order to enhance interoperability and communicatons links required to execute mutinational air operations.Said Lieutenant General Pascal Delerce,Deputy Commander Allied Air Command: Allied Air Forces are standing shoulder to shoulder to provide a robust collective defence and deliver constant vigilance across NATO air space.* NATO'S enhanced Air Power (eAP) doctrine demonstrates its solidarity,collective resolve and ability to adapt and scale its defensive missions and deterrence posture in response to an evolving security situation.The eAP strengthens the capability of defending Allied territory against a constantly challenging security environment in the Black Sea Region,adds Major General Viorel Pana,Chief of Air Force Staff,Romanian Air Force.*

What's Trending in Aerospace - September 5, 2021 - Aviation Today

What's Trending in Aerospace - September 5, 2021 - Aviation Today: Check out the Sept. 5 edition of What's Trending in Aerospace, covering the latest headlines occurring across the global aerospace industry.

Bull Run 12:NATO Land Forces Drill on Eastern Flank

NATO'S enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland went on alert to deal with a simulated crisis in Exercise Bull Run 12 from 19-23 June 2020. Soldiers from the five Battle Group Poland nations participated:
Croatia, Poland, Romania, the UK and the US.The warfighting drills took place on the Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland.The aim was to test the readiness and interoperability of the Battle Group and the Polish 15th Mechanised Infantry Brigade.*
Representing the US was the 3rd Squadron,2nd Cavalry Regiment.Iron Troop was the ready troop and had 12 hours to move through the Alert Marshall Deploy Sequence and occupy their battle positions in the Sowaki Gap.*
The main parts of the exercise were a wet gap crossing and a combined arms drill.The water obstacle was defeated on BL6-67 bridges under cover of F-16 fighter aircraft and W-3 Sokol helicopters.The CAD was rehearsed with a terrain model on the ground.
The US troops deployed their Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles.*
Croatia won the military competition held before the exercise.*

Black Sea Patrol: Large Air Drills Show NATO'S Mettle

On 29 May 2020,a Bomber Task Force mission was executed over Europe and the Black Sea Region.It was historic in that, for the first time ever,a BTF mission integrated B-1B Lancer strategic bombers with Ukrainian Su-27 Flankers,MiG-29 Fulcrums and Turkish KC-135 refueling tankers.*

The long-range, long duration mission involved interoperability training in the Black Sea Region with theatre Allies and Partners, enhancing resilience and building enduring relationships to confront the broad range of global challenges the Alliance faces today.The mission provided a clear deterrence message to any adversary, according to US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa commander GEN Jeff Harrington:
The integration of our strategic bomber presence across Europe proves that the US, alongside our Ally or Partner,stands ready to deter, and if needed, can employ these capabilities together.*
Also integrating with the Lancers were Polish F-16s and MiG-29s, and Romanian F-16s and MiG-21s, providing bomber escort and combat patrol overwatch in the Black Sea Region,USAFE said.Refueling for the long haul flights by the B-1Bs, which flew all the way from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota,as well as the escort and patrol aircraft, was provided by KC-135s from RAF Mildenhall and Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.Other NATO refueling aircraft also participated.*
Finally, the B-1Bs integrated with Hellenic Air Force F-16s for an air policing mission over Skopje, North Macedonia.North Macedonia is NATO's newest member.*
Summing up, Supreme Allied Commander Europe GEN Tod Wolters,USAF, noted that:
These strategic missions enhance the readiness and training necessary to respond to any potential crisis or challenge around the globe.*

Falco-Virgo:NORAD Exercise Includes C-12 Huron

NORAD has announced that an air defence exercise is to occur between 12:30 am and 2:30 am Wednesday morning in the skies of the Washington,D.C. area.Aircraft utilised will include F-16 Fighting Falcons;a C-12 Huron;an MH-65D Dolphin helicopter,which is used by the US Coast Guard to provide overwatch of the D.C. area;and a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182T.
Portions of the drill could be visible from the ground,with low level flights at around 2500 feet.If the weather is bad,the exercise will take place the following day.*
The C-12 Huron,manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft Corporation in the US,is based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and the Beechcraft 1900.Its Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop engines give it a top speed of 333 mph and a range of 2074 miles.Utilised by all four of the Department of Defense armed forces,the Huron's principal missions are focused on the tactical movement of cargo and passengers between military bases;embassy support;medevac;VIP transport;and light cargo transport.Equipped with Rockwell Collins avionics,it is regarded as the primary operations support aircraft,with a cargo capacity of 5,000 pounds.The C-12 has a maximum crew of two (pilot and co-pilot) and can carry up to 13 passengers.*
Raytheon Corp (RTN)

NATO Tests Air Power in Portugal:Real Thaw 18

NATO's Exercise Real Thaw 18 has been launched at the Portuguese Air Force's Air Base No.5 in Monte Real.Running from 29 January to 9 February 2018,this tenth iteration of the annual warfighting drills is intended to evaluate and certify the PAF's operational capability by replicating a realistic environment,as close as possible to current operational theatres,encompassing air,sea and land operations.*
Some 35 aircraft and 1500 personnel from Allies Denmark,France,the Netherlands,Portugal,Spain,the US and NATO will take part in RT18.Led by the PAF and featuring Portuguese Army and Navy units as well,the exercise's live fire missions will enhance air defence;convoy protection in humanitarian missions;close air support to ground forces and Special Operations Forces;extraction operations of military and civilian elements;cargo and paratrooper drop operations;combat search and rescue;aeromedical evacuations;civil-military cooperation;conventional guided and high accuracy ordnance attacks;and conventional attacks on maritime forces,NATO said.The drills' flying assets will be controlled by NATO E-3A and French E-3F AWACS aircraft.*
RT18 missions will be executed nationwide,day and night,in air,on land and at sea,with the proper precautions in place to protect the civilian populace and the environment.Some of the Allied aircraft involved are the Danish F-16 Fighting Falcon;Spanish F/A-18 Hornet;and US Air Force C-130J Tactical Air Transport from the 94th Airlift Wing out of Dobbins AFB,Georgia.

Russia Probes British Defences by Sea and Air - Belgian fighter jets among responders

The Russian military has been probing the UK's area of national interest in recent weeks,raising NATO concern as fighting between the Ukrainian Army and Russian-backed rebels intensified in Eastern Ukraine.On 8 January 2018,the Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster intercepted and escorted two Russian warships,the Stereguschin-class frigates Soobrazitelny and Boiky,plus their support ships Paradoks and Kola,out of the English Channel.
Commander Simon Kelly,commanding officer of the Westminster,explained:
The English Channel is an absolute lifeline for the UK,and it is very important that HMS Westminster and the Royal Navy maintains a watchful eye on this key strategic link.*
Presumably,the Russian warships have by now returned to their Baltic homeport.*
In the Baltic State of Estonia,Britain has deployed its Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) artillery,which is long range and precision-guided by GPS,along with 800 troops as part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence strategy.*
On 15 January,the RAF launched Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth,Scotland,on a quick reaction alert as two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers approached the UK.The Russian Defence Ministry said their bombers were escorted by Belgian F-16s as well as British Typhoons at different stages of their mission.*
According to the UK Ministry of Defence:
The RAF worked closely with NATO partners to monitor the jets as they passed through a variety of international airspace,before they were intercepted by the RAF over the North Sea.Subsequently,our fighters escorted the Russian Blackjacks North,out of the UK's area of interest.At no time did the bombers enter UK sovereign airspace.*
For his part,British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
The threats this country faces are intensifying and we will not hesitate in defending our skies from acts of aggression.Our excellent RAF tracked the Russian aircraft every step of the way,and they continue to police UK and international airspace every hour of every day,to help keep the British people safe.*
RAF QRA was launched today because the Russian military aircraft were not talking to air traffic agencies,the MOD added.

NATO's Steadfast Noon 17:Nuclear Deterrence in the Heart of Europe

On 16 October 2017,NATO commenced its annual nuclear deterrence exercise,Steadfast Noon 17.The drill is perhaps the most cryptic of the NATO exercises,its details held very close to the vest.Revolving around a fictitious scenario,it is being lumped in with the biennial Exercise Formidable Shield 17 this year,an exercise focused on missile and air defence.FS 17 ends on 18 October,so perhaps Steadfast Noon will as well.
Typically SN involves launching and recovering a number of nuclear-capable fighters,such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the PA200 Tornado.There may also be support aircraft code-named SNOWCAT in the drill.*
Partcipating in Formidable Shield 17 are Canada,France,Germany,the Netherlands,the US and the UK.Poland has participated in Steadfast Noon since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014,and since it is being held in Belgium and Germany this year,those two Allies will certainly be participating.It has rarely been filmed,but I did locate some quality videos of the 2011 and 2012 drills by airplane enthusiast MrSoeberg.*
The US stores between 150-180 B61 nuclear bombs at six air bases in five European countries,the Congressional Research Service revealed.Among them is Belgium's Kleine Brogel Air Base.Belgium is intent on keeping the powerful weapons on its soil,where it has a nuclear dual key arrangement with the US.This may incline Belgium to select the F-35 Lightning II for the upcoming modernisation of its fighter jet fleet.*
German and Italian  IDS PA200 Tornados are capable of deploying the B61.Other aircraft known to be capable of handling this bunker buster,tactical nuclear weapon are:
B-52 Stratofortress;B-2 Spirit;F-16 Fighting Falcon;F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet;F-22 Raptor;F-35 Lightning II;F-15E Strike Eagle.NATO is modernising its stockpile to the more accurate B61 Mod 12,which is a standoff weapon.The current Mod 11 is an unguided gravity weapon with a yield that varies from 0.3 to 340 kilotons.*
The following Allies have been assigned NATO nuclear strike missions:Belgium;Germany;Italy;the Netherlands;possibly Turkey;and the US.

Russia Steps Up Probing of Nordic-Baltic Region - four NATO Allies respond in one day

US Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work took Russia to task for its recent behaviour in the Nordic-Baltic Region at a press conference following a meeting with eight delegates from the region on 7 October 2016.Finland said two Russian Su-27 Flanker fighter jets violated its airspace on separate occasions in the Gulf of Finland south of Porvoo that same day.Russian military aviation over the Baltic Sea has been intense,Finland noted;while Iceland had complained that two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers flew too close to civilian airliners,flying between 1800-2700 meters/6,000-9,000 feet below a flight from Reykjavik,Iceland to Stockholm,Sweden.
There is absolutely no justification for it,Secretary Work said.Regardless of the timing,regardless of the circumstances,these are unsatisfactory manoeuvres that are unsafe and unprofessional.Hopefully we'll be able to see a moderation in them to avoid an accident or a tragic occurrence.Unfortunately,these are becoming the norm rather than the exception.*
Attending the US-Nordic-Baltic forum were Denmark,Estonia,Finland,Iceland,Latvia,Lithuania,Norway and Sweden.The forum dealt with regional security issues such as Russian behaviour in the Baltic Sea and ways to increase defence cooperation-including in the War On ISIL.*
Preceding the forum,the French Ministry of Defence revealed that,on 22 September 2016,four NATO Allies had scrambled fighter jets to intercept two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers:
1.The extraordinary chase began when Norway scrambled two F-16 Fighting Falcons to escort the Blackjacks towards the north of Scotland.
2.The British sent Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth to intercept the Russian bombers and shadow them around the west of Scotland and Ireland.As a precaution,more Typhoons were scrambled from RAF Coningsly in Lincolnsire,but didn't intercept the Blackjacks in the end.
3.Two French Rafale fighters then intercepted the Russians 100 km off the Britanny coast.Two other Rafales took over as the bombers headed south.
4.Finally,two Spanish F-18s shadowed the Blackjacks north of Bilbao,at which point the Russians turned around and flew home.*
Russia has also deployed its Iskander-M mobile nuclear-capable missile system to its territory of Kaliningrad on the Baltic coast,which is wedged between Poland and Lithuania.Poland said this was very alarming and of the highest concern;but Russia insists it is only an exercise and has been done before.

Exercise Pitch Black 16:Air Combat in Australia's Northern Territory - some NATO countries invited

The Royal Australian Air Force's massive,biannual air combat exercise Pitch Black 16 continues on this week.The multinational drills are focusing on offensive and defensive air combat in a simulated war environment.With up to 115 aircraft and more than 2500 personnel,Pitch Black is running from 29 July to 19 August in the vast open skies of the sparsely populated Northern Territory,based at RAAF Darwin and RAAF Tindal about 300 kilometers to the south,and utilising both the Delamere Range Facility and Bradshaw Field Training Area.*
Participating besides the host nation are the US,Canada,Germany,Singapore,Indonesia,New Zealand,Caledonia,Thailand,France and the Netherlands.It was Germany's first participation in Australia's largest air exercise.The UK is not participating this time because of other obligations at the Farnborough Air Show.*
Besides several US Air Force,Thai and Indonesian F-16 and Singaporean F-15 fighters,as well as Australian F-18 Hornets and Superhornets,many transport aircraft and tankers are involved in the war games as well,such as the US Marine Corps KC-130 tanker and the Australian KC-30A tanker/transport.In the Pitch Black scenario,the Red Force from Tindal is the aggressor against the Darwin Blue force with increasing complexity as the drills progress.Air defence systems will be tested and allied forces will develop how they operate together.Air to air combat;air to ground attack;command and control;and tactical air transport will be tested by large formations of aircraft practising challenging air operations.In today's air war,it's more about integrating into a complex and joint environment than achieving mission goals as an individual,providing immediate and responsive military options across the spectrum of operations.Air-land integration is also a new emphasis,as the US Army's 5th Battlefield Coordination Detachment works with Australian Army counterparts to develop a joint approach to enable ground forces to communicate in real time with aircraft.
Troop transport and forward air controller drills are also being incorporated in Pitch Black 16 as part of the air-ground integration package.*
Such mutually beneficial tactics and procedures will build an effective coalition,as a larger team needs to operate cohesively in order to achieve success as well as stabilise and secure the Asia-Pacific region.

War On ISIL:Belgium Joins Syria Campaign;Battle for Fallujah Begins;Air Strike Details

On 13 May,Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel and Defence Minister Steven Vandeput announced that Belgium will begin conducting airstrikes in Syria.*
Belgium is an important member of the coalition,and this contribution comes at a key moment of the campaign,said US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.Belgian aircraft played a key role in the air campaign over Iraq from October 2014-June 2015.As they return to Operation Inherent Resolve as part of a scheduled rotation with the Dutch military,Belgian F-16s now will operate with greater flexibility and coherence of effort as a result of the decision to conduct strikes in Syria as well,Mr.Carter explained.
As of 23 May,the new rotation had yet to begin.*
Meanwhile,Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the commencement of the effort to recapture Fallujah,which was lost to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant about two-and-a-half years ago.Fallujah is in Anbar Province and 50 km west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.Tens of thousands of civilians are trapped in the city.Dozens of families have managed to flee,but ISIL is trying to prevent this.
The ISF have almost completely surrounded the city.Iraqi F-16s recently acquired from the US have been bombing the area to soften ISIL resistance along with OIR coalition aircraft.The US fought two major battles in Fallujah in 2004,suffering some of the heaviest casualties since the Vietnam War there.
Participating in Operation 15th of Shaban are 20,000 Iraqi troops:10,000 Iraqi Army soldiers,Federal Police and the Golden Division;plus 10,000 Popular Mobilisation Unit members,including 5,000 Sunni tribesmen from Anbar and 5,000 mostly Shia volunteers from around Iraq;the Iraqi Air Force and Iraqi Army Aviation,as well as the OIR aircraft.
IEDs,booby traps and mines are all expected to confront the ISF as they battle their way into the city,the recapture of which is seen by Iraq as the next logical step on the road to liberating the ISIL northern stronghold of Mosul after the liberation of the Anbar capital Ramadi in December 2015.*
Combined Joint Task Force OIR has announced the following results from airstrikes conducted by coalition aircraft yesterday,23 May:
In Syria,fighters and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 7 strikes,among them:
near the ISIL capital of Raqqah,4 strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a military garrison;
near Shadaddi,a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a fighting position.
In Iraq,attack,fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 12 strikes,among them:
near Fallujah,4 strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a light machine gun,a front end loader,a mortar system,3 vehicle-borne IED storage facilities,2 rocket positions and 3 mortar positions;
near Mosul,4 strikes destroyed 2 ISIL vehicles,a VBIED,a mortar system and a fighting position,and suppressed a mortar position.*
Those that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the US;Australia;Belgium;Canada;Denmark;France;Jordan;the Netherlands;and the UK.
Those that have conducted strikes in Syria include the US;Australia;Bahrain;Canada;France;Jordan;the Netherlands;Saudi Arabia;Turkey;the UAE;and the UK.