US Launches Successive Airstrikes on Taliban... "Will Continue Until the End of August"

First Offensive Launched by Afghan Taliban Rebels After U.S. Troop Withdrawal (Kalyaina, AFP=Yonhap) [Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] As the United States prepares to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, it has been conducting successive airstrikes against the Taliban.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 23rd (local time), the U.S. military carried out multiple airstrikes over two days, from the 21st to the 22nd, targeting the southern Afghan stronghold city of Kandahar and the Helmand Province area. Amid Taliban warnings of retaliation, the U.S. plans to continue airstrikes at least until the end of August, when the withdrawal is expected to be completed.

The Taliban stated in a press release that on the 21st, three of their members were killed and two vehicles were damaged in a U.S. airstrike on the outskirts of Kandahar. The Taliban warned, "The United States has violated the withdrawal agreement" and "will pay the price."

The U.S. Department of Defense also confirmed the airstrikes during a spokesperson briefing but did not disclose specific dates or the scale of the operations.

The New York Times, citing U.S. military officials, reported, "The U.S. military will conduct airstrikes against the Taliban only under limited circumstances and will continue these airstrikes at least until August 31."

The U.S. is expected to carry out additional airstrikes in the Kandahar area within days. In Kandahar, the Taliban has taken control of the border region with southern Pakistan, leading to intense clashes between the Taliban and government forces over the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has promised continued support for Afghanistan even after the troop withdrawal. The White House announced that during a phone call with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, President Biden stated that the U.S. will continue to support Afghanistan, including economic development and humanitarian aid.

President Biden also approved an emergency fund of up to $100 million (115 billion KRW) to support Afghan refugees. This fund will be used to help Afghan interpreters who assisted U.S. forces and their families escape to the United States.