Al Jazeera News :
Officials say the US has launched its first air strikes against the Taliban in Afghanistan since President Barack Obama’s decision earlier this month to expand his country’s involvement against the fighters.
The American officials said on Friday that the strikes began last week and were against Taliban targets in the southern part of the country.
Peter Cook, the Pentagon press secretary, declined to provide any details, citing “operational security”.
Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan: US not really at war in Afghanistan any more
Within the past week US President Barack Obama gave authority to expand the use of air strikes in Afghanistan.
This is significant because the US is not really at war in Afghanistan any more. It has primarily deployed about 9,800 troops to help with training and assisting the Afghan military.
But, we do now know that the first use of this expanded authority has been employed.
Peter Cook, Pentagon press secretary, is not explaining under what circumstances these air strikes were being carried out. We presume they are against members of the Taliban in southern Afghanistan.
He is also refusing to answer questions about whether the US is considering keeping those 9,800 troops past the end of this year.
It had been a longstanding plan by the White House to cut that number in almost half, mainly so that the Afghan military could actually be in full control of security for their country, and so that most American forces who had been deployed in the war there could finally come home.
Officials say the US has launched its first air strikes against the Taliban in Afghanistan since President Barack Obama’s decision earlier this month to expand his country’s involvement against the fighters.
The American officials said on Friday that the strikes began last week and were against Taliban targets in the southern part of the country.
Peter Cook, the Pentagon press secretary, declined to provide any details, citing “operational security”.
Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan: US not really at war in Afghanistan any more
Within the past week US President Barack Obama gave authority to expand the use of air strikes in Afghanistan.
This is significant because the US is not really at war in Afghanistan any more. It has primarily deployed about 9,800 troops to help with training and assisting the Afghan military.
But, we do now know that the first use of this expanded authority has been employed.
Peter Cook, Pentagon press secretary, is not explaining under what circumstances these air strikes were being carried out. We presume they are against members of the Taliban in southern Afghanistan.
He is also refusing to answer questions about whether the US is considering keeping those 9,800 troops past the end of this year.
It had been a longstanding plan by the White House to cut that number in almost half, mainly so that the Afghan military could actually be in full control of security for their country, and so that most American forces who had been deployed in the war there could finally come home.
