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US Offers Further Air Support to Afghan Troops Amid Taliban Offensive

Reuters

   KABUL - The United Stateswillcontinue to carry out airstrikes to
   support Afghan forces facingattack from the insurgent Taliban, a
   regional U.S. commandersaid on Sunday as U.S. and other international
   forces have drawndown troops in Afghanistan.

   The Taliban has escalated its offensive in recent weeks,taking rural
   districts and surrounding provincial capitals,after U.S. President Joe
   Biden said in April U.S. troops wouldbe withdrawn by September, ending
   a 20-year foreign militarypresence.

   "The United States has increased airstrikes in support ofAfghan forces
   over the last several days and we're prepared tocontinue this
   heightened level of support in the coming weeks ifthe Taliban continue
   their attacks," U.S. Marine General Kenneth"Frank" McKenzie told a news
   conference in Kabul.

   McKenzie, who leads U.S. Central Command, which controlsU.S. forces for
   a region that includes Afghanistan, declined tosay whether U.S. forces
   would continue airstrikes after the endof their military mission on
   Aug. 31.

   "The government of Afghanistan faces a stern test in thedays ahead ...
   The Taliban are attempting to create a sense ofinevitability about
   their campaign," he said.

   But he said a Taliban victory was not inevitable and apolitical
   solution remained a possibility.

   Afghan government and Taliban negotiators have met inQatar's capital,
   Doha, in recent weeks, although diplomats saythere have been few signs
   of substantive process since peacetalks began in September.

   Reeling from battlefield losses, Afghanistan's military isoverhauling
   its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrateforces around the
   most critical areas like Kabul and othercities, border crossings and
   vital infrastructure, Afghan andU.S. officials have said.

   U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday thatthe Afghan
   security forces' first job was to make sure theycould slow the
   Taliban's momentum before attempting to retaketerritory.

   McKenzie said there would likely be a rise in violence aftera lull over
   a Muslim holiday this week and said the Talibancould focus on populated
   urban centers.

   "They are going to have to deal with the cities if they wantto try and
   claw their way back into power" he said. "I don'tthink it's a foregone
   conclusion that they are going to be ableto capture these urban areas."

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