Taliban cry foul after US carries out airstrikes in battle-weary Kandahar

The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces carried out operations against Taliban insurgents in a number of districts in Kandahar province on Tuesday night, leaving at least 30 militants dead, security sources have confirmed.

According to the Afghan Ministry of Interior, “30 Taliban terrorists were killed in Jiri district of Kandahar province and in the Timur area on the outskirts of Kandahar city.”

The MoI stated that security and defense forces launched an operation on Tuesday to repel insurgent attacks in Jiri district.

“As a result, 12 Taliban terrorists were killed and six motorcycles belonging to terrorists were destroyed.

“Also last night, 18 Taliban terrorists were killed in another counterattack by these forces in the Timur area of central Kandahar,” MoI stated.

US Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) meanwhile stated it had conducted airstrikes in Kandahar over the past two days and that these were done within the parameters of their agreement with the Taliban. .

The US military stated in a tweet that “USFOR-A conducted airstrikes within the last 48 hrs targeting Taliban fighters actively attacking and maneuvering on ANDSF positions in Zharay, Spin Boldak and Kandahar Districts, Kandahar.

“Taliban claims otherwise are false. The US continues to defend ANDSF in accordance with the US-Taliban agreement,” read their tweets.

This was in reference to the Taliban’s claims that the US airstrikes in Kandahar was a “clear violation of the Doha agreement,” which was signed in February last year between the US and Taliban.

However, the agreement states the US is still able to come to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces’ defense if needed.

The Taliban disagreed and on Wednesday stated that if the US forces continue to violate the agreement, the group will also take action against them.

The Taliban will take the same actions and then the consequences will be on the soldiers of US forces, said Mohammad Naeem, a Taliban spokesman, in a statement.