The US military claims to have killed more than 70 senior Taliban leaders over a 10-day period this month, calling it “one of the largest blows to Taliban leadership in the last year”.
In a series of precision strikes conducted May 17-26, the most lethal attack was on May 24 when a known Taliban command and control node in Musa Qal’ah was destroyed during a high-level meeting of Taliban commanders, according to a statement issued by the US Forces-Afghanistan.
Among the more than 50 casualties was the deputy shadow governor of Helmand, multiple Taliban district governors, intelligence commanders and key provincial-level leadership from Kandahar, Kunduz, Herat, Farah, Uruzgan and Helmand provinces.
In a separate airstrike the same day, US Air Force A-10 bombers struck a Taliban Red Unit commander for Helmand and an associate while they were travelling in Sangin district.
“These strikes represent one of the largest blows to Taliban leadership in the last year,” said U.S. Army Gen. John Nicholson, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan and Resolute Support commander, adding, “The cumulative effects of which will be felt nationwide for quite some time.”
Air Force bombers also killed a shadow district governor and destroyed a shadow district headquarters in Nahr-e-Saraj, May 25.
On May 26, an unmanned aircraft killed a senior improvised explosive device facilitator, who has been coordinating improvised explosive device operations against Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, international forces and the people of Afghanistan for the last 13 years, the statement said.
Additionally, during the 10-day period, more than 15 Taliban were killed in separate strikes around the province.
“National and international leaders have been clear – victory in Afghanistan will be a political reconciliation,” said Nicholson. “As we continue the season of fighting and talking, we will continue to increase pressure on the Taliban and remain vigilant to opportunities for negotiated peace.”
President Donald trump announced his new Afghanistan policy last August and the focus has been to break the stalemate in a war that has been going on for nearly 17 years now.
There are lesser restrictions on American operations now and US forces have switched back to carrying out attacks on insurgents wherever they are found. During the last years of Obama administration, it was more of a training and advisory role and US forces could target militants only if they were threatening or fighting allied troops.
Recent reports suggest that the aerial bombings are also targeting Taliban’s revenue sources and more than a 100 strikes have been aimed at cutting off revenue the Taliban allegedly received from opium poppies and roadside taxes.
US officials have maintained that there is no military solution in Afghanistan but Taliban need to be pressured to come to the negotiating table and these attacks seem to be part of that strategy.
