Air interdiction Air interdiction ( AI ) is the use of aircraft to attack tactical ground targets that are not in close proximity to friendly ground forces . It differs from close air support because it does not directly support ground operations and is not closely coordinated with ground units . Unlike strategic bombing , air interdiction is not meant as an independent air campaign , as its ultimate purpose is to aid ground operations rather than to defeat the enemy by air power alone . The purpose of air interdiction is to delay , disrupt , or destroy enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area before they can engage friendly forces . Even at such degree , a distinction is often made between strategic and tactical interdiction ; strategic operations are broad and long - term , while tactical operations are designed to affect events rapidly and in a localized area . Background . Air interdiction is a core airpower mission that has been conducted since World War I by virtually all air forces . In that war , the goal was to isolate the battlefield by strafing and bombing enemy supply lines . Favorite targets were railroad lines , bridges , and truck convoys . Due to the primitive state of aircraft and weapons technology , as well as the undeveloped nature of air doctrine and tactics , air interdiction missions in World War I were of limited utility . The potential of air interdiction was clearly recognized , however , and during World War II it once again became a major mission of air forces . Although air interdiction operations were conducted in all theaters , the most extensive and thoroughly analyzed , particularly in the English language , were those of the United States and United Kingdom against the Axis . Specifically , the Allies launched major air interdiction efforts in the North African , Italian , and Normandy campaigns . The venues for these three campaigns were markedly different in terms of weather , terrain , the enemy ’ s supply and transportation infrastructure , and the availability of intelligence regarding the enemy . As a consequence of these differences , the results of air interdiction also varied . The greatest success was in the desert terrain of North Africa , where Axis forces also relied heavily on vulnerable and visible sea convoys across the Mediterranean Sea . The Italian campaign , by contrast , was characterized by mountainous terrain , poor weather conditions , and shortened German supply lines . The diverse results of these two campaigns taught air planners differing lessons . Air interdiction has continued to play a major role in conflicts since World War II . It has been extensively used in modern conflicts such as Korea , Vietnam , Iraq , and in the 1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , as well as in wars between Israel and the Arab states in the Middle East . Once again , differing local conditions and political restraints have had an enormous effect on how air interdiction was conducted and the degree to which it was successful . In Vietnam , for example , the strategic interdiction campaign known as Rolling Thunder ( 1965 – 1968 ) was largely unsuccessful . The dense jungle terrain , poor intelligence on enemy movements , and political restrictions on targets struck made U . S . air interdiction efforts largely futile . The flow of supplies and reinforcements from North Vietnam to their units in South Vietnam was not seriously affected . In contrast , coalition air interdiction efforts in the 1991 Gulf War were extremely successful in isolating front - line Iraqi units from their bases in the rear . Intelligence , much of it derived from space and airborne sensors , gave an unusually clear picture of enemy locations , and the open desert terrain similarly facilitated air interdiction operations . Lessons learned . When assessing air interdiction efforts during the 20th century , it is possible to identify several factors that will have an impact on success .