Latest "Operation Freedom's Sentinel" stories

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft approaches a KC-10 Extender aircraft over an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia to receive fuel during a mission on Aug. 13, 2021. (Tech. Sgt. Michelle Y. Alvarez/Air Force)

Inside the B-52s’ deployment to support the Afghanistan withdrawal

Airmen would fly 12-hour missions keeping watch over Kabul, then turn into aid workers back in Qatar — passing out baby diapers to refugee mothers, handling passenger lists for outbound C-17s, serving food and more.

By Rachel S. Cohen

18 months ago

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher McCall, 73rd Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron Shadow 71 aircraft commander, receives the Distinguished Flying Cross from U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, during a ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, June 22, 2021. Shadow 71 was an AC-130J Ghostrider flight that directly supported American and Afghan forces during an ambush and subsequent firefight, repeatedly engaging multiple enemy positions while simultaneously coordinating a multitude of other support functions in the air. (Tech. Sgt. Victor Caputo/Air Force)

AC-130J gunship team honored for saving 88 Americans, Afghans in overseas shootout

Another AC-130J Ghostrider team has been recognized for their combat valor in Afghanistan.

By Rachel S. Cohen

21 months ago

The threat to our security isn’t reducing troop levels in Afghanistan and Iraq — it’s failing to withdraw them entirely

The author of this commentary says there is little gain by merely reducing the number of troops we deploy into war zones abroad.

By Daniel L. Davis

2 years ago

Green Beret from 1st Special Forces Group dies during combat ops in Afghanistan, leaves pregnant wife and young daughter

This year has been the deadliest for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since the mission to the country scaled down at the start of 2015.

By Howard Altman and Kyle Rempfer

4 years ago

Special tactics airman killed in Afghanistan followed in family’s footsteps

Aaron Elchin last spoke to his brother, Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin, Saturday via Facetime from Afghanistan.

By Andrew Goldstein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via the AP

4 years ago

Air Force B-52s shatter Vietnam-era records during two-year ISIS deployment

More than four decades ago, the Air Force’s iconic B-52 Stratofortress set records as it pounded North Vietnamese targets during Operation Linebacker II.

By Stephen Losey

5 years ago