U.S. Intensifies Airstrikes in Afghanistan as Taliban Offensive Nears Kandahar

The U.S. has stepped up airstrikes in southern Afghanistan amid rising apprehension over a Taliban offensive threatening Kandahar, the country’s 2nd-major town and spiritual cash of the Taliban movement.

The slide of Kandahar would deal a heavy blow to the U.S.-backed authorities in Kabul, which is seeking to impart serene to its citizens as the Taliban has seized swaths of the countryside, but so significantly failed to consider a significant town.

The airstrikes, about a dozen in latest days, point to a continuing part for the U.S. navy in Afghanistan, inspite of self-confidence expressed by President Biden and the Pentagon that the Afghan armed forces are nicely-outfitted and completely ready to combat the Taliban on their personal. U.S. forces are owing to depart Afghanistan by the stop of August.

Kandahar, population 600,000, was home to deceased Taliban chief Mullah Omar, and host to essential navy bases as soon as managed by the U.S. It is also a significant financial prize.

The Taliban have state-of-the-art dozens of miles toward Kandahar town in latest weeks, squeezing it from a few directions, capturing swaths of territory in the Panjwai and Arghandab valleys, destinations wherever foreign troops fought for decades to continue to keep the Taliban at bay.