Aerial bombing campaigns by US - reports from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Gaza

Just to keep you up to speed on reports for January 6th 2009 of the air wars currently being undertaken in the Middle East under US control.

In total, 68 close-air-support missions were flown in support of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

In Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 43 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The CIA report that the Israeli Air Force conducted more than 60 airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday. Airstrikes killed Hamas' commander responsible for launching rocket attacks from Rafah and Hamas' commander in Khan Younis.

The CIA have delayed reporting the Jan. 1 attack in the town of Karikot in South Waziristan , Pakistan. This killed Osama al Kini and his senior aide Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan, intelligence officials told The Washington Post. These two Kenyans had been (unlike Osama bin ladin ) on the FBI most wanted list for ten years and had US$5 Mn bounties on their heads.

Al-Kini was believed to be behind last year’s deadly attack on the Marriott hotel in Islamabad (?). A U.S. counter-terrorism expert said to FOX news that “They died preparing new acts of terror.”

Two other unnamed operatives were also killed in the airstrike. More gory details - some of which might not be correct.