U.S. carries out first airstrike on Taliban since Doha deal – By Reuters (NBC News) / March 4 2020
Colonel Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the U.S. Forces, said it was a “defensive strike” to disrupt an expected attack.
KABUL — The United States conducted an airstrike on Wednesday against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province, a U.S. forces spokesman said, the first such attack since a troop withdrawal agreement was signed between the two sides on Saturday.
The Taliban fighters were “were actively attacking an [Afghan National Security Forces] checkpoint. This was a defensive strike to disrupt the attack,” said Colonel Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan in a tweet.
He said Washington was committed to peace but would defend Afghan forces if needed.
Afghan Taliban militants and villagers attend a gathering as they celebrate the peace deal and their victory in the Afghan conflict on U.S. in Afghanistan, in Alingar district of Laghman Province on March 2, 2020.NOORULLAH SHIRZADA / AFP – Getty Images
“Taliban leadership promised the [international] community they would reduce violence and not increase attacks. We call on the Taliban to stop needless attacks and uphold their commitments,” he said.
The airstrike was the first by the United States against the Taliban in 11 days, when a reduction in violence agreement had begun between the sides in the lead up to Saturday’s pact.
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