Iraq uses F-16s against jihadists for first time

Iraq has put F-16 warplanes acquired from the United States into action against the Islamic State group for the first time, the commander of the air force says.

“Fifteen airstrikes were carried out in the past four days,” Staff Lieutenant General Anwar Hama Amin tells AFP.

“Smart weapons” were used in the strikes, Amin says, without specifying the type.

Illustrative photo of an F-16. (photo credit: CC BY Ronnie Macdonald, Flickr)

Defense Minister Khaled al-Obaidi tells a news conference that the strikes had achieved “important results” and that the jets will have “an impact on the conduct of operations in the future.”

Amin tells the news conference that the F-16 strikes had taken place in Salaheddin and Kirkuk provinces, north of Baghdad.

The first four Iraqi F-16s arrived from the United States in mid-July, out of a total of 36 Washington has agreed to sell to Baghdad.

— AFP