A U.S. regional commander said on Sunday that as the U.S. and other international forces have withdrawn in Afghanistan, the U.S. will continue airstrikes to support Afghan forces facing attacks by Taliban rebels.
After U.S. President Joe Biden stated in April that U.S. troops would withdraw by September, ending 20 years of foreign military presence, the Taliban have escalated their offensives in recent weeks, capturing rural areas and surrounding provincial capitals.
U.S. Marine Corps General Kenneth McKenzie said at a press conference: “In the past few days, the United States has increased its air strikes against the Afghan army. If the Taliban continue to launch attacks, we plan to continue to increase them in the coming weeks Support for the Afghan army.” In Kabul.
Mackenzie, who leads the U.S. Central Command, declined to say whether the U.S. military will continue air strikes after the end of its military mission on August 31.
“The Afghan government is facing a severe test in the coming days… The Taliban are trying to create an inevitable feeling for their campaign,” he said.
But he said that the victory of the Taliban is not inevitable and a political solution is still possible.
The Afghan government and Taliban negotiators have met in Qatar’s capital Doha in recent weeks, although diplomats have stated that there have been few signs of substantial progress since the peace talks began in September.
Afghan and US officials said that due to heavy losses on the battlefield, the Afghan military is fully adjusting its war strategy against the Taliban, focusing its forces in the most critical areas such as Kabul and other cities, border crossings, and important infrastructure.
Mackenzie said that after the Muslim holiday this week, violence may increase and that the Taliban may focus on densely populated urban centers.
“If they want to regain power, they will have to deal with the city,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that they will be able to occupy these urban areas.”
