January 26, 1998 (by Lieven Dewitte) -
The United States has assembled a powerful multi-service force to keep pressure on Iraq in the standoff over U. N. access to suspected weapons sites. About 175 U.S. Air Force aircraft are assigned to the area for air interdiction, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, electronic warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance, combat search and rescue, and command and control of air operations. Among these are six F-117 stealth fighters based in Kuwait and eight B-52 long-range strategic bombers, based on the British Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. Other Air Force assets in the region include 24 F-16CG and F-16CJFighting Falcon ground-attack aircraft and two B-1 supersonic long-range bombers for knocking out armored columns.
