Airstrikes ... in Baghdad

BAGHDAD -- So this is what all the booms were today (From a U.S. military press release):

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2006 – In a joint effort, Coalition Forces conducted a precision air strike, using four U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, against a known terrorist facility at approximately 4:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in southern Baghdad.

Terrorists were using a former Iraqi regime munitions storage bunker, located in a large, uninhabited weapons-storage complex in the Babil province, to acquire and transport bomb-making munitions to be used in attacks against the Iraqi people and Coalition Forces.

Coalition Forces participating in the mission took all available precautions to ensure no civilians were present during the strike. The aircraft conducted a clearing pass while Multi-National Division – Baghdad helicopters scanned for any civilians in the area in a deliberate effort to ensure no collateral damage.

The sorties made multiple passes to ensure the complete and methodical destruction of the bunker.

The area they're talking about is probably al-Saha, on the other side of the neighborhood of Dora, where a major refinery is located.

I'm not sure, but I don't recall air strikes in or near Iraq's capital city for a long time. In fact, I can't remember any since I got here in May 2004, although these things tend to blend together after a while. But if the war's going so well, and the Iraqis are taking the fight to the terrorists, blah blah, why are the Americans resorting to air strikes here? That's, like, so 2003.