Direct proof of use
Official U.S. defense reporting states that a Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II conducted its first combat strikes in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on September 27, 2018, in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan.
The same official account says the mission included an airstrike supporting ground-clearance operations. U.S. Central Command imagery and reporting identify the aircraft as F-35Bs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked on USS Essex.
Sources: DOW F-35B Afghanistan Strikes, CENTCOM F-35B First Combat Strike
Timeline
The dated public record centers on September 27-28, 2018. On September 27, official Navy and CENTCOM releases reported the strike and described USS Essex-based F-35Bs supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel. On September 28, the Department of War historical release repeated the Afghanistan strike account and identified it as the aircraft's first combat strikes in the CENTCOM area.
Sources: Navy F-35B First Combat Strike, DOW F-35B Afghanistan Strikes, CENTCOM F-35B First Combat Strike
Operational role
The Afghanistan use was a U.S. Marine Corps strike-aircraft mission rather than a permanent Afghan basing deployment. The F-35Bs were embarked with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, giving the Marine Corps a ship-based aircraft that could support ground forces from international waters.
Public official accounts do not name the Afghan province, target, or munition used in the strike. The source-backed claim is that U.S. Marine Corps F-35B aircraft conducted combat strikes in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, including an airstrike tied to ground-clearance operations.
Sources: DOW F-35B Afghanistan Strikes, Navy F-35B First Combat Strike, CENTCOM F-35B First Combat Strike
