US escalates - B52 stratofortess bombers move to MidEast base

[Bob]

12 April 2016 -- The U.S. Air Force released images showing a pair of B-52 bombers http://cc.amazingcounters.com/counter.php?i=3190880&c=9572953


http://images.military.com/media/equipment/b-52-qatar-1200x800-ts600.jpg


arriving in Qatar (Al Udeid Air Base) from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., to "support the campaign against Islamic State militants" in Iraq and Syria.


http://www.thenational.ae/storyimage/AB/20160409/ARTICLE/160409107/AR/0/&NCS_modified=20160409212218&MaxW=640&imageVersion=default&AR-160409107.jpg

The B-52 represents serious firepower in the global war on terror.

The plane, which has been in the U.S. inventory for more than 60 years, can carry 70,000 pounds of bombs and other weapons,


https://milaviate.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/b-52h_static_display_arms_06.jpg

compared with the B-1's 50,000-pound payload, and a 13,700-pound payload for a Navy F/A-18E/F jet fighter-bomber.


The airbase:


http://www.militaryaiworks.com/images/jdownloads/screenshots/maiw_aludeid_1.jpg

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/SPECIALS/2001/trade.center/deployment.map/al.udeid.gif

It is host to a forward headquarters of United States Central Command, headquarters of United States Air Forces Central Command, No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group RAF, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing of the USAF.

In 1999, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad told U.S. officials that he would like to see as many as 10,000 U.S. servicemen permanently stationed at Al Udeid.

[Bob]

Why B52's?

Centcom has responsibility for an area spanning 20 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

B-52s were stationed in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm, the campaign to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait, in 1991.

The heavy bomber was last flown operationally during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2001, and during an exercise in Jordan last May, according to the Air Force.

It is replacing the B-1B Lancer bomber in the fight against the Islamic State—Operation Inherent Resolve.

The president has authorized U.S. Central Command to work with partner nations to conduct targeted airstrikes of Iraq and Syria as part of the comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL.

Operation Inherent Resolve

Source: DoD - As of 4:59 p.m. EST Apr. 12, the U.S. and coalition have conducted a total of 11,539 strikes (7,794 Iraq / 3,745 Syria).

U.S. has conducted 8,825 strikes in Iraq and Syria (5,307 Iraq / 3,518 Syria)

Rest of Coalition has 2,714 strikes in Iraq and Syria (2,487 Iraq /227 Syria)

The countries that have participated in the strikes include:

In Iraq: (1) Australia, (2) Belgium, (3) Canada, (4) Denmark, (5) France, (6) Jordan, (7) The Netherlands, and (8) UK

In Syria: (1) Australia, (2) Bahrain, (3) Canada, (4) France, (5) Jordan, (6) The Netherlands, (7) Saudi Arabia, (8) Turkey (9) UAE and (10) UK

As of Apr. 4, U.S. and partner nation aircraft have flown an estimated 88,667 sorties in support of operations in Iraq and Syria.


http://www.defense.gov/portals/1/features/2014/0814_iraq/Operation-Inherent-Resolve-Mar17-2016.jpg

"The B-52 will provide the coalition continued precision and deliver desired airpower effects,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command and Combined Forces Air Component. “As a multi-role platform, the B-52 offers diverse capabilities including delivery of precision weapons and the flexibility and endurance needed to support the combatant commanders’ priorities and strengthen the coalition team."

The 19-nation air coalition consists of numerous strike aircraft and the B-52s will bring their unique capability to the fight against ISIL.

The B-52 is a long-range heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions including strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction and maritime operations.

Crews will be available to carry out missions in both Iraq and Syria as needed to support air tasking order requirements.

"The B-52 demonstrates our continued resolve to apply persistent pressure on (ISIL) and defend the region in any future contingency,” Brown said.


The coalition conducted more than 33,000 airpower missions in support of OIR. Since the beginning of the operation, the coalition struck about 459 vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, 776 mortar systems, 1,933 logistics buildings housing these weapons, 662 weapons caches, and 1,341 staging areas.

[Cidersomerset]

U.S. Deploys B-52 Bombers To The Middle East In Order To Participate In Operation Inherent Resolve

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Published on 12 Apr 2016


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U.S. Deploys B-52 Bombers To The Middle East In Order To Participate In Operation
Inherent Resolve.B-52 Stratofortress Bombers were deployed to the middle east by
the U.S. for the first time since the 90s on April 9, 2016.

The two B-52's from Barksdale AFB in Louisiana will be supporting Operation
Inherent Resolve and landed on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic
bomber that has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since the
1950s.

The The bomber is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of
weapons, and has a typical combat range of more than 8,800 miles (14,080 km)
with aerial refueling.

Learn more about the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_...

[thepainterdoug]

look at all these arms. yet were supposed to believe some sand fleas with box cutters brought down our country.

[Citizen No2]

Apologies.

I've deleted my post as it contributes nothing.