[TigerLikesRooster]

From U.S. Central Command:

New Air Campaign Expands to the North

Feb. 6, 2018 —
NEWS RELEASE

2018-02-06

KABUL, Afghanistan (February 6, 2018) – United States Forces-Afghanistan launched a series of precision strikes in Northern Afghanistan in a direct effort to destroy insurgent revenue sources, training facilities, and support networks.

Over the past 96 hours, U.S. forces conducted air operations to strike Taliban training facilities in Badakhshan province, preventing the planning and rehearsal of terrorist acts near the border with China and Tajikistan. The strikes also destroyed stolen Afghan National Army vehicles that were in the process of being converted to vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.

During these strikes, a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress dropped 24 precision guided munitions on Taliban fighting positions, setting a record of the most guided munitions ever dropped from a B-52. The aircraft has played a leading role in Air Force operations for decades, and was recently reconfigured with a conventional rotary launcher to increase its reach and lethality.

Continued U.S. strikes disrupt Taliban support networks in Helmand province, as well as destroy their sources of revenue such as illegal narcotics.

Ongoing strikes in Helmand continue to degrade Taliban revenue sources and safe havens. U.S. strikes and ASSF raids have resulted in the removal of more than $30 million of Taliban revenue since the campaign began in November, 2017.

"The Taliban have nowhere to hide," said General John Nicholson, commander, USFOR-A. "There will be no safe haven for any terrorist group bent on bringing harm and destruction to this country."

Over the past year, U.S. precision strikes and the efforts of the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Special Security Forces have prevented Taliban fighters from capturing Kunduz City. The Taliban continue to fail in their attempts to recapture lost territory in other areas. In 2017, the Taliban did not capture a single provincial capital, despite repeated boasts and attempts. Faced with failure on the battlefield, they have turned to targeting civilians as the only tactic they have left.

"The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield, therefore they inflict harm and suffering on innocent civilians," said Nicholson. "All they can do is kill innocent people and destroy what other people have built.”

[DAC21]

Interesting, I wonder how many bombs can be dropped simultaneously? Multiple passes? Laser guided by ground troops, gps?? Hey DOD we want video!

[DOC44]

Nice to have a President that allows the military to do what they need to do to kick butt. So glad the former traitor in chief is out and being harder to hear anything about day by day. or is that the enemy in chief.

[lefty-lie-spy]

Maybe a couple of these, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massive_Ordnance_Penetrator, they certainly are heavy. Man, 24 of these things going off around you could really ruin your weekend.

[fso301]

to destroy insurgent revenue sources

I assumed a crop duster would do that.

[Reno89519]

Test it on Mecca and anywhere Islam congregates.

[Psalm 73]

"A US Air Force B-52 bomber launched a record-setting series of strikes this week...."

The same week an American company launches a sports car into space - we're Americans - we can do freaking anything!!

[jimbug]

Can somebody school me on this: why haven't we taken out the poppy fields and taught these farmers how to raise something else like goats or sheep?

They LIKE goats and sheep---right?

[HighSierra5]

The article didn’t say where the B-52 took off from as far as I could read. Strangely, I did see a B-52 being refueled by a KC-10 at about 20,000 ft above my house in the southern Sierras a few days ago. I don’t know where it was from or if it was a training mission out of Edwards or China Lake. There’s always something flying around like the time I saw B-25 flying in formation with a U-2. No UFOS yet.

[trebb]

The Buff is the Model 1911 of aircraft.....all these years and it still keeps giving.....

[Big Red Badger]

B52...

[Delta 21]