U.S. fighter jets flying over Kabul to ensure evacuation security-Pentagon

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Armed U.S. fighter jets have been flying over Kabul to ensure security for the evacuation operation, the Pentagon said on Thursday, adding that there had been no hostile interactions with the Taliban or attempts to impede the evacuation.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told a news briefing the jets had not conducted "low pass" flights over the city but had been engaged in "overwatch."

"The overwatch flights ... have been in the air since before the noncombatant evacuation operation. It's prudent force protection measures in the air, to make sure that we can protect our people and our operations against any threat," he said.

Army Major General William Taylor told the briefing that multiple gates at Kabul international airport were now open and about 7,000 people have been evacuated so far.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-fighter-jets-flying-over-153022944.html

[Hoyt]

1. Glad they seem to be getting things under control.

[dumbcat]

2. I wonder where they are based from?

As I understand it, there are not any US controlled air bases within close air support range.

Anyone know better?

[Deminpenn]

6. Navy carrier air group

That's the nice thing about aircraft carriers, they can be deployed quickly to provide air cover and support.

[Klaralven]

3. Wonder where they are based?

The Ronald Reagan is in the North Arabian Sea. So they could be carrier aircraft. But Kabul is around 700 miles from the coast via Pakistan, and that's about the range of an F/A-18F lightly loaded. So they'd need to be refueled over Northwest Pakistan in order to have loitering time over Kabul.

Flying from Qatar in the Persian Gulf around Iran is around 1500 miles to Kabul.

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

4. Yes, reports are the F-18s are flying from the carrier USS Ronald Reagan

[Klaralven]

5. Looks like the Regan is the only one not near home port or in drydock.

http://www.gonavy.jp/CVLocation.html

Although the Vinson may be headed towards the Western Pacific.

[Deminpenn]

7. If needed, Lincoln and TR are on the west coast

and could be deployed, too.

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

8. It was just a week ago we had B-52s and AC 130 gunships doing missions, I'm sure they are around too

[Klaralven]

9. Not sure what good all this does except as a threat

Civilians, Taliban, and US forces are in pretty close proximity around the airport.

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

13. Good point. Unless this powderkeg blows and the airport is in danger of being overrun or attacked

[former9thward]

10. Fighter jets can do nothing about what is happening on the ground.

The are going hundreds of miles a hour and can't see anything on a individual level.

[Devil Child]

11. They can drop guided munitions on active threats to our forces on the ground

This has to be a tremendous relief to those still evacuating the airport.

[former9thward]

12. No they can't.

They would kill more civilians in Kabul than "active threats". Fighter jets can do nothing about the Taliban stopping Afghan civilians trying to escape. And there are no "active threats" to the U.S. military anyway. This is just a show.

[Devil Child]

14. Nowhere did I mention afghan civilians

If the airlift of US forces comes under attack then targets will come under attack from our aircraft such as the ones currently orbiting Kabul. Most certainly a show of force that can deploy force if needed. I welcome their presence.

[former9thward]

15. There have been no threats against the military for 18 months now.

Since the withdrawal agreement. The military is embarrassed and wants to show its doing something.

[Devil Child]

16. I would disagree with no threats. No attacks against US forces yes.

But that doesn’t mean no current threat and the situation could easily worsen to an active threat. Having combat aircraft in place overhead simply allows our troops additional means of defending themselves if needed. Biden is wise to authorize this.