Limited US air operations have continued in Iraq over the last month to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State (IS) militants. Air power has primarily been used to monitor the situation and collect intelligence about IS forces while also in action against specific IS positions on the ground. By September 11 156 airstrikes had hit 212 IS targets, although by the previous day 2,749 sorties had been flown since combat operations began on August 8 (see US Launches Limited Airstrikes in Iraq, September, p13). The difference is accounted for by large numbers of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions flown and Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers providing air-to-air refuelling for the strike aircraft and ISR sorties. US Air Force Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles, Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons, Rockwell B-1B Lancers and General Atomics MQ-1 Predator remotely-piloted vehicles have been utilised against IS, expending 202 munitions. US Navy Boeing F/A-18C Hornets and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets flying from the USS George H W Bush (CVN 77) have employed an additional 51 weapons, primarily Joint Direct Attack Munitions. Electronic Attack Squadron 134's (VAQ-134) Grumman EA-6B Prowlers, making the type's final carrier deployment with a US Navy unit, have also been active since the start of operations.
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