Several live fire drills were conducted in Iraq and Syria at the beginning of May by the US-led joint task force against the Islamic State (IS) organization.
For security reasons, the task force does not disclose advance information about military exercise dates. However, daily announcements made since May 1 have provided details about ongoing ground and aerial operational exercises conducted in various areas of operations.
Strategic Military Outpost in Southeastern Syria
The purpose of these exercises is to validate weapons systems, as well as to maintain crew proficiency and readiness. The drills have taken place in the Syrian provinces of al-Tanf and Deir ez-Zor, as well as the Iraqi provinces of Erbil, Khalidiya, and Mosul.
Al-Tanf, situated in southeastern Syria near the borders of Iraq and Jordan, serves as a military outpost for American forces. CJTF-OIR troops also operate from the Deir ez-Zor region in eastern Syria. Both locations regularly face attacks, although they are seldom retaliated against.
Khalidiya is located along the Euphrates River in Iraq’s Al Anbar province, which was the site of some of the bloodiest battles during the Iraq war. Erbil, situated approximately 200 miles north of Baghdad, serves as the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. Mosul, also in northern Iraq, is the country’s second-largest city after the capital.
Safety Measures for Live Fire Rehearsals
A former anonymous US government official informed The Media Line that successfully organizing live fire exercises in a foreign country is a challenging task, particularly when foreign troops are involved.
The CJTF-OIR press release from May 1 acknowledged that extensive planning and safety measures are implemented before and during live fire rehearsals to ensure the protection of the Coalition and the local population.
When asked about the precise weapons systems used in these drills, government representatives declined to speak to The Media Line about them. However, some speculate that the recently deployed refitted A-10 Thunderbolt II planes, as reported by War Zone, may be involved.
According to the War Zone report, these planes, also known as A-10 Warthogs, have been modified to carry precision-guided small-diameter bombs.
The A-10 Warthog is a jet primarily designed for close air support missions and has been in service since 1972. It is often referred to as “the tank buster.” Equipped with an Avenger Gatling gun, the aircraft is capable of firing 3,900 rounds of depleted uranium shells per minute.
The process of refitting CJTF-OIR planes aims to minimize civilian casualties caused by unguided bombs, commonly known as dumb bombs. The manufacturer states that the precision-guided bombs enable today’s warfighters to precisely engage multiple targets per sortie.
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