12 March 2020

US maintains high-tempo air warfare against Taliban, Islamic State in Afghanistan

by Gareth Jennings

The United States has shown no signs of letting up in the air war against both the Taliban and the Islamic State in Afghanistan, figures released by Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) show.

A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II rolls into the attack at the supposed height of the war in Afghanistan more than a decade ago. Figures released by AFCENT over recent months show record-breaking numbers of missions are being flown where weapons are released. (US Air Force)

According to the latest Combined Forces Air Component Commander (CFACC) 2013–2019 Airpower Statistics released on 12 March, 360 missions flown in Afghanistan in February resulted in weapons being released.

This was the second highest number for the month since AFCENT first began releasing figures in 2009, with only February 2018 recording more with 469. The average number of sorties flown by US and coalition (excluding Afghan) aircraft where weapons were released, for the month of February since 2009, has been 248.

The high strike rate for this February is in line with a now-established trend of escalating pressure on the Taliban and Islamic State in Afghanistan from the air. As reported by Jane’s in January, 2019 saw the US military drop more munitions on Afghanistan than in any other year over the past decade, with 7,423 missions flown resulting in weapons being released (the AFCENT numbers do not note the numbers or types of weapons released during each mission, nor do they indicate the target).

The United States has shown no signs of letting up in the air war against both the Taliban and the I...

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