US aircraft conducted two air strikes inside Yemen within a week, bringing the total number of strikes in that country to 80 in about two months. On April 23, a US drone strike hit al Qaeda militants in the southern part of the country. On April 18, another strike targeted al Qaeda fighters in the north. The US is continuing “ to conduct a series of sustained operations” targeting al Qaeda in the country, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said Monday. While the US has a continued ground presence inside Yemen, there has not been a “kinetic ground operation” since the Jan. 29 Navy SEAL raid that resulted in the death of Chief Special Warfare Operator William Owens.
A pair of Air Force generals are set to receive third stars and take over new commands. The Pentagon announced a new slate of nominations May 25. President Joe Biden nominated Maj. Gen. Stacey T. Hawkins to become a lieutenant general and the new commander of the Air Force Sustainment…