A KC-10A takes off from Al Dhafra Air Base. USAF
Warzone/The Drive: What It Takes For U.S. Jets To Keep Fighting In Afghanistan From "Over The Horizon"
Recent information provided by the Air Force underscores the hurdles the service faces in conducting airstrikes in Afghanistan from the Persian Gulf.
As the Taliban continues to make significant gains against government security forces in Afghanistan, the U.S. military has indicated that it will continue to support the latter with airstrikes indefinitely, despite previously saying it would halt these operations by the end of August. However, the ongoing drawdown of American forces in the country, which has included completely vacating major air bases, has raised questions about how difficult it may be to provide robust and persistent airpower from "over the horizon." Now, an official U.S. Air Force news item has offered specific details about the significant logistical hurdles to carrying out such strikes going forward.
In April, approximately half of the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, which flies F-15E Strike Eagles, deployed from an "undisclosed location" to Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates with the help of KC-10A Extender aerial refueling tankers from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron. The undisclosed location that the F-15Es deployed from is almost certainly Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, which has hosted rotating contingents of Strike Eagles for years.
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WNU Editor: Despite the logistics the U.S. is increasing air strikes .... US increases airstrikes to help Afghan forces fight Taliban (The Hill). More here .... Pace of US Airstrikes in Afghanistan Increases as Taliban Violence Continues (Air Force Magazine).
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