Air support to US and NATO ground forces in Afghanistan continues at a heightened pace (see above). During action July 7, a USAF B-1B bomber dropped 2,000-pound joint direct attack munitions on enemy forces near Bermel, and, in the same area, USAF A-10s fired rockets and cannon rounds and dropped general purpose 500-pound bombs against other enemy positions, according to an Air Forces Central release. Near Nagalam, a US Air Force F-15E dropped 500-pound JDAMs and a B-1B launched a 2,000-pound and 500-pound JDAMs on various enemy fighter positions. Near Bari Kowt, B-1Bs dropped a 2,000-pound and 500-pound JDAMs on enemy forces, while near Molla Ashraf, F-15Es pounded the enemy with 2,000-pound JDAMs. According to AFCENT, joint terminal attack controllers on the ground confirmed the success of all the missions. In total in Afghanistan, International Security Assistance Force aircraft flew 52 close air support missions. In Iraq, coalition forces flew 47 CAS sorties.
The Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness revised the Defense Department’s COVID-19 guidelines. The new rules clarify what’s meant by being “up to date” on vaccinations and when personnel must wear masks in vehicles, among other changes.