Afghan, U.S. Forces Increase Airstrikes on Insurgents’ Strongholds: MoD

As part of the U.S. new strategy, the Afghan and American forces have increased airstrikes on militants’ strongholds and training centers, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

“The Afghan and U.S. air raids have been increased and thereafter no training centers of insurgents would remain secure,” said the Afghan Defense Ministry Spokesman, Dawlat Waziri.

The United States military has deployed Special Forces and airstrikes against militants particularly, against Islamic State in Afghanistan, and says it has killed dozens of the group’s leaders and hundreds of fighters this year.

However, claims of civilian deaths from airstrikes have also occurred this year in many provinces as a result of fighting in areas where it can be difficult to distinguish militants from civilians.

“These attacks are effective in fight against terrorism, but accuracy should be maintained in regard,” said the Afghan Interior Ministry Spokesman, Najib Danish.

 Since start of the war season in Afghanistan, the Taliban have increased scale of attacks in many provinces, specially on highways; however, in most of the occcasions their assaults have been foiled.

“When you have effective airstrikes and night raids, the Taliban militants and their leadership will be eliminated” said Former Deputy of the Interior Ministry, Mirza Mohammad Yarmand.