US aircraft in July conducted two more strikes in Yemen, targeting al Qaeda operatives in part of an ongoing counter terrorism focus inside the country. A July 8 strike killed one operative, and another on July 16 killed six operatives and injured one more. The strikes were conducted to “put consistent pressure on the terrorist network” and aim to prevent attacks on US personnel and allies, US Central Command said in a release. The two strikes bring the total number to 11 in 2016, according to statistics previously announced by CENTCOM. The strikes are part of a separate counterterrorism campaign targeting al Qaeda in Yemen, though the Air Force had actively supported the Saudi Arabian-led campaign targeting rebels in the country with air refueling and an air liaison team in Riyadh.
With upgrades, F-16s can serve as a numbers-builder in the combat air forces until the 2040s, and it’s not necessary to launch its successor yet, program officials said at an industry conference. “We anticipate hundreds of F-16s in active service for decades to come,” meaning into the 2040s, Col. Tim…