B-1B Destroys Enemy Bunker

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Feb. 23, 2009 — Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Feb. 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer destroyed an anti-Afghan bunker near Now Zad using a guided bomb unit-31. Personnel in the bunker had been firing on coalition troops.

In the vicinity of Shurakian, many coalition aircraft provided air support for an ambushed coalition convoy after one vehicle was disabled by an improvised explosive device. Enemy forces took cover and pulled back from the immediate area when the aircraft arrived. An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II destroyed an additional IED using a GBU-38 as the convoy prepared to depart.

An A-10 Thunderbolt II intervened after anti-Afghan forces in fortified positions near Nangalam engaged a coalition convoy with rocket-propelled grenade and assault-weapons fire. The A-10 used a GBU-38 and 30mm cannon strafes to destroy the enemy positions.

While providing overwatch near Lashkar Gah, a Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet used GBU-12 to target an enemy indirect fire position launching attacks on coalition units. The strike successfully ended the attacks.

During a ground firefight on in the Morghab area, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle bombed an anti-Afghan forces fighting position using a GBU-12. After the initial strike, nearby enemy personnel tried to flee the area on motorcycles, but paused briefly to abandon their weapons in a nearby settlement. With other coalition aircraft helping to maintain positive identification of the enemy personnel, the Strike Eagle pursued, hitting the motorcycles with another GBU-12 and a cannon strafe once the risk to civilians had passed.

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