The top Air Force commander for Europe and Africa says the U.S. military has resumed counterterrorism missions in Niger, flying drones and other aircraft out of Niger air bases more than a month after a coup temporarily halted all those activities there.
Hecker said the U.S. is flying both manned and unmanned missions and that those flights resumed “within the last couple of weeks.”
The significant distance between the two bases also means that the while flights are going out, some missions are “not getting as much data, because you’re not overhead for as long” because of the amount of fuel it takes to get out and back, he said. The U.S. has made Niger it’s main regional outpost for wide-ranging patrols by armed drones and other counterterror operations against Islamic extremist movements that over the years have seized territory, massacred civilians and battled foreign armies. The bases are a critical part of America’s overall counterterrorism efforts in West Africa.In 2018, fighters loyal to the Islamic State group ambushed and killed four American service members, four Nigeriens and an interpreter.
The Islamic extremist group Boko Haram operates in neighboring Nigeria and Chad. Along Niger’s borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and al-Qaida affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin pose greater threats. The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Taiwan reports 28 Chinese air force planes in its air defence zoneTaiwan's defence ministry said it spotted 28 Chinese air force planes in its air defence zone on Wednesday morning, part of what Taipei calls regular harassment by Beijing amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Consulte Mais informação »
Team at Hill Air Force Base helps fix massive long-range radar in NevadaA team at Hill Air Force Base is credited with helping to fix a massive piece of radar equipment on the top of a mountain in Nevada. It's equipment that helps protect the airspace in Utah and other western states.
Consulte Mais informação »
America must optimize forces to avoid losing a war with China, Air Force Secretary saysAir Force Secretary Frank Kendall warned that the U.S. military may be unprepared for a conflict with China, and 'might even lose' a hypothetical war.
Consulte Mais informação »
Northrop Grumman: Air Force B-21 stealth bomber starts engine testsNorthrop Grumman Corp. said late Tuesday that it started engine runs as part of the testing of its B-21 Raider “stealth” bomber. The program’s ground testing...
Consulte Mais informação »
A remote Air Force base in Alaska is getting its own nuclear reactorEielson Air Force Base will get some of its energy from a small nuclear reactor that's scheduled to go online in 2027.
Consulte Mais informação »
Air Force misses recruitment goals as China continues to beef up military mightThe U.S. Air Force will fall short of its active-duty recruiting goals this year, something that has not happened in more than two decades, Secretary Frank Kendall said.
Consulte Mais informação »