F-16 airstrike kills 3 terrorist leaders Published Sept. 28, 2007 Combined Air Operations Center Public Affairs SOUTHWEST ASIA (ACCNS) -- An Air Force F-16CJ Fighting Falcon dropped precision munitions near Al Nussayyib, Iraq, Sept. 25, killing Abu Nasr al-Tunisi and two other Al Q'aeda in Iraq operatives. The three were killed when the aircraft, assigned to U.S. Central Command Air Forces, dropped two precision-guided 500-pound bombs on the target -- one laser-guided GBU-12 and one GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition, destroying the terrorist safe house where the three were meeting. "Airpower is crucial to setting the conditions for stability in Iraq," said Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, Combined Air Forces Component commander. "Air power overhead provides capability to the fight with precision targeting, which was used on Tuesday to ensure these individuals could no longer target innocent Iraq citizens." Coalition air forces play a critical role in synchronizing and integrating day-to-day ground operations by providing both close air support and ISR -- intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and theater airlift, air to air refueling and aeromedical evacuation -- key and crucial components for the joint force commander's joint and combined force and the forces of NATO's International Security Assistance Force operations.