July airstrike total is 2nd highest of year

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An F-16 Fighting Falcon launches from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, on an alert mission June 24.


July airstrike total is 2nd highest of year
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Aug 19, 2010 14:04:55 EDT

Fewer air strikes flew over Afghanistan in July than in June, but the monthly total is still the second highest of the year, according to new data from Air Forces Central Command.

Air Force, Navy and other coalition warplanes had 400 weapon releases in July. That’s down from 500 in June, the highest so far in 2010.

Those releases include bomb drops, strafing runs and missile strikes. The numbers don’t include attacks flown by helicopters, special operations gunships and many Marine Corps fighters.

Fewer weapons releases in July isn’t unusual. In 2008 and 2009, there were decreases from June to July.

If the infrequent use of air strikes in Afghanistan continues at current rates, coalition warplanes are on track to release the fewest weapons since 2007.