source GAIA package: Sx_MilitaryTimes_M6201410310080068_5675.zip Origin key: Sx_MilitaryTimes_M6201410310080068 imported at Fri Jan 8 18:19:05 2016
As the U.S. approaches the end of major combat operations in Afghanistan, the number of airstrikes there hit their highest point in two years in August.<\/p>
U.S. aircraft dropped 436 bombs and other weapons in August, according to U.S. Central Command. That’s the highest point since August 2012, when the U.S. conducted 588 airstrikes.<\/p>
And it’s well over the typical number of monthly airstrikes over the preceding 12 months, which ranged between 76 and 272. U.S. aircraft released an average 149 weapons per month between August 2013 and July. So far in 2014, U.S. aircraft have dropped 1,446 bombs and other weapons in Afghanistan.<\/p>
U.S. aircraft conducted 660 close-air support sorties last month, bringing the total number this year to 10,890.<\/p>
Army Lt. Col. Chris Belcher, spokesman for NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, said airstrikes typically increase during the warmer months in Afghanistan, also known as the “fighting season,” when Taliban forces stage most of their attacks.<\/p>
Belcher quoted ISAF commander Army Gen. John Campbell in saying the spike in activity is most likely due to the “Taliban trying to make a statement as they close out the fighting season.”<\/p>
Belcher also said Afghan National Security Forces are increasingly taking the lead on security operations. As Afghans take an increased role in fighting insurgents, Belcher said, “we expect to see a corresponding increase in airstrikes in support of their operations.”<\/p>
In an Oct. 2 news conference, Campbell said that the number of aircraft U.S. forces will have to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, close-air support and medevac to Afghan forces will be “greatly diminished from what we have today” in 2015. But he said U.S. forces will continue to provide ISR and close-air support as they assist the Afghans in 2015 and 2016.<\/p>
“We will continue to work through the Afghans what we will be able to provide and what we won’t be able to provide to the Afghans starting on 1 January,” Campbell said.<\/p>
Statistics for September are not yet available.<\/p>
The number of close-air support sorties and weapon releases in Afghanistan hit a five-year peak in 2011, but began winding down soon after. Sorties increased from 33,707 in 2010 to 34,514 in 2011, and weapon releases increased from 5,100 to 5,411 between 2010 and 2011. But sorties dropped to 28,768 in 2012 and 21,785 in 2013, and weapon releases likewise fell to 4,084 in 2012 and 2,756 in 2013.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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