US aircraft recently conducted multiple airstrikes targeting the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, the first new operations under expanded authority as part of Operation Resolute Support. Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said “the first use of these authorities involved airstrikes” in the southern portion of the country, but he would not expand on specifically where or what was targeted at the request of commanders in theater. The White House earlier this month expanded the authority of the top US commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen. John Nicholson, to determine when to target the Taliban, either by air or with American forces accompanying conventional Afghan troops, in an effort to ebb gains by the group inside the country.
B-21 Raider First Flight Now Postponed to 2023
May 20, 2022
The Air Force says the B-21 Raider won't make its first flight until 2023; about a six-month delay from the last official estimates. No reason was given for the delay. While other programs have recently chalked up schedule slips to supply chain and labor shortages, the Air Force has said…