Just A Reminder Who's Boss...

Over the past several weeks, the US military has reported increased Taliban activity in the mountains of Afghanistan. On Wednesday, a US Air Force B-1B Lancer reminded some of those insurgents that their presence is not welcome in that country... by striking a Taliban-associated compound near Kandahar in support of coalition ground forces conducting operations to detain individuals suspected of terrorist activities.

According to the Air Force, the B1-B responded to an immediate air support request with a GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition, destroying the compound from which the Taliban members were attacking.

Coalition ground forces reported approximately 15 to 20 Taliban were killed from the air strike, all active members of the Taliban network who had conducted attacks against coalition and Afghan forces.

Additionally, the insurgents are believed to have conducted attacks against Afghan government officials, and were suspected of constructing improvised explosive devices and training other enemy fighters.

This was the first use of a JDAM by a B-1B in a combat environment. The Air Force recently added a new software package to the bomber that allows it to carry and deliver this guided weapon.

"With the new software package and this precision weapon, we can target and eliminate the terrorist threat in close quarters,” said Maj. Gen. Allen Peck, deputy Combined Forces Air Component commander for US Central Command.

"We’re able to better support our coalition ground forces," Peck added, "and significantly reduce the possibility of civilian casualties."

The JDAM, a 500-pound bomb, is a precision weapon that allows warfighters to focus their strikes and minimize civilian casualties.

FMI: www.af.mil