LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (AP) — American forces conducted several airstrikes over the past few days in support of Afghan security force under attack by Taliban in the southern Helmand province, the spokesman for the U.S. military in Afghanistan said on Monday.
Col. Sonny Leggett confirmed on his twitter account that the strikes over the past two days in Helmand did not violate the U.S.-Taliban agreement signed in February.
“The Taliban need to immediately stop their offensive actions in Helmand Province and reduce their violence around the country. It is not consistent with the US-Taliban agreement and undermines the ongoing Afghan Peace Talks,” Leggett’s tweet said, quoting Gen. Scott Miller, the Commander of the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan.
“I’m not going to engage in speculation,” Milley said in an interview with NPR. “I’m going to engage in the rigorous analysis of the situation based on the conditions and the plans that I am aware of and my conversations with the president.”
The announcement of U.S. strikes comes after a gun battle on Monday was reported in and around Lashkar Gah, the capital city of Helmand province.
Eyewitnesses said there is sporadic shooting inside the city and residents have fled from the Nad Ali and Nawa districts because of the fighting
