Jesse Lamarand

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE – The commander of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base asked for the support of the community for military members and their families at Minot Air Force Base and others across the globe during this time of Operation Epic Fury.

“We are living in a very tumultuous time in a period of change across the globe,” Col. Jesse Lamarand told members of the Minot Area Chamber EDC’s Military Affairs Committee meeting Thursday, March 5, at the base.

Minot AFB has two wings — the 5th Bomb Wing with its B-52 bombers and the 91st Missile Wing with Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles in the surrounding area.

Lamarand expressed his appreciation to the Military Affairs Committee members as well as friends and family for supporting those at Minot AFB and continuing to support them.

He said he could not provide a lot of information.

“But I can tell you that the Iranian regime, as you all are very familiar with, has the blood of Americans on its hands. It remains intent on destroying our allies and partners, and routinely, over the past decades, instigates regional crisis with proxies who pose a threat to servicemembers and the airmen on this base, hands down.

“We, the United States, with your support, we will not stand idly by. We will not let this happen. We will not let it continue and we won’t let Iranian aggression threaten United States warfighters,” Lamarand said.

He said the U.S. is taking bold action to deliver an overwhelming and unrelenting blow to Iran’s security apparatus.

“As you all understand, this is the largest concentration of airpower in the history of airpower as far as firepower is concerned.

“Our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, guardians and Coast guardsmen are answering the call to defend America’s interests. We will protect our troops, we will defend maritime access and we will degrade Iran’s military and missile threat,” Lamarand said.

Video courtesy of U.S. Central Command. U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers taxi for takeoff in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 2.