AC-130 Gunships And A-10s Destroy 116 ISIS Fuel Trucks
Over the Weekend the U.S. Air Force (USAF) operating out of Incirlik Air Base, in Turkey, destroyed 116 ISIS fuel trucks using two AC-130 gunships and four A-10 Warthogs, striking a major logistical and economical blow to the terrorist group. The airstrike was near Deir al-Zour, an area in eastern Syria controlled by ISIS. The terrorist group is reported to have 1,000 fuel transport trucks.
“This part of Tidal Wave II is designed to attack the distribution component of ISIL’s oil smuggling operation and degrade their capacity to fund their military operations,”- Colonel Steven H. Warren
Targeting fuel trucks used to be off limits because of the civilians operating them, but shortly after the Paris terrorist attacks the rules of engagement changed. Before destroying the tankers the USAF, using F-15s, dropped information leaflets telling the drivers to scatter as an attack was imminent. To show the drivers that USAF was serious they had A-10’s conduct strafing runs close to the trucks an hour before the strikes.
With France announcing they are at war, we will see an increase in operational tempo from the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic state.
