According to a central command statement, "commanders on the ground reported that coalition forces received significant enemy fire from the hotel and consistent with the inherent right of self-defence, coalition forces returned fire".
The air assault was relatively modest, destroying a building and two armoured vehicles, according to US central command.
According to United States Central Command, American military tankers have flown nearly 1,200 sorties since the war began and refueled more than 5,600 coalition aircraft — support that is drawing increasing protest from Congress.
Under Trump, the air war on terror organizations active in Yemen has ramped up considerably; there were more than 130 U.S. airstrikes in the country last year, according to United States Central Command, compared to 38 in 2016.
According to the U.S. Central Command, the incident began when Pakistani troops at the checkpoint opened fire on two small American helicopters that were providing air support to the U.S.-Afghan unit while it was on patrol near the border.
At least 12 other American service members have been killed in Pakistan since Sept. 11, 2001, in hotel bombings and a plane crash, according to the United States Central Command, but these were the first killed as part of the Special Operations training, which has been under way for 18 months.
Power and decision-making seem to be draining back to central command, much as heretofore.
The telltale Secret Service signs were there: the earpiece back to central command and the expensive shades.
There are repeated pleas to central command for the air support that never came.
The message was then relayed to central command.
