Aircraft
U.S., British Aircraft Support New Campaign Over Iraq
Manned and unmanned aircraft are participating in the intelligence-gathering and humanitarian missions.
U.S. sailors guide an F/A-18C on the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush in the Arabian Gulf on August 8. (Photo: U.S. Department of Defense)
U.S. sailors guide an F/A-18C on the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush in the Arabian Gulf on August 8. (Photo: U.S. Department of Defense)

Nearly three years after the U.S. military withdrew from Iraq, Navy F/A-18 Hornets and Air Force F-15s, F-16s and unmanned MQ-1 Predators returned to the sky over the country this past week to stem the advance of Islamic extremists and support humanitarian airdrops. More than 60 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft engaged in the effort, according to the Department of Defense.