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16-month high for Afghanistan airstrikes

The number of bombs dropped in Afghanistan in October was the highest since mid-2008, according to Air Forces Central Command.

Coalition warplanes dropped 647 bombs during 2,359 close-air support sorties in October, Air Force figures show. The bomb total is the highest since July 2008, when 752 bombs were released.

While ground commanders have restricted the use of bombs to prevent civilian casualties, air operations increased as troops in remote areas came under attack.

Over Iraq, the use of bombs continues to be rare. AFCent reported only two bombs were dropped in 742 sorties in October.

The airstrike numbers don’t include strafing runs, attacks by special operations AC-130 gunships, launches of small missiles or helicopter attacks.

In supply operations, C-130s and C-17s airdropped 2.8 million pounds of supplies in Afghanistan.

Reconnaissance planes flew 1,793 missions over Iraq and Afghanistan.