F-15Es strike insurgent compound Published May 17, 2007 SOUTHWEST ASIA -- F-15E Strike Eagles struck an insurgent compound in Afghanistan during combat operations in the region May 12. A joint tactical air controller requested the strike after insurgents conducted small arms and rocket propelled grenade attacks from the compound, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. The Strike Eagles dropped precision-guided GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and fired cannon rounds into the compound during the strike. In other combat operations that day, additional F-15Es dropped a GBU-38 on an insurgent position near Banow, Afghanistan. A joint tactical air controller on the ground reported a direct hit. Meanwhile, a group of Strike Eagles flew a "show of force" mission over a village near Sangin, Afghanistan, to deter enemy activity. The F-15Es then flew over the area keeping watch for enemy activity while a coalition convoy drove to a forward operating base in the area. The JTAC later met up with coalition ground forces and requested the pilots perform a reconnaissance flight over the area following reports of a large group of Taliban crossing a river. The missions were some of the hundreds of close air support, airlift and show of force missions flown over Afghanistan and Iraq over the past several days in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. This includes more than 100 close-air-support missions flown May 11 and 12 in support of the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols. Coalition aircraft flew an additional 97 close-air-support missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to support coalition ground forces, protect key infrastructure, provide over watch of reconstruction activities and to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.