08 May US Deploys Military Resources to Protect American Forces in Afghanistan
The US Government has deployed heavy bombers and fighter jets to protect American and coalition troops withdrawing from Afganistan. The US had its troops in Afghanistan since 2001 when 9/11 happened. The American President, Joe Biden, announced that all the troops would return by September, marking the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack.
However, with Afghan security on high alert, the withdrawal might involve violence. According to the reports, the Taliban has warned the troops that they are no longer in agreement not to target any international troops. Reportedly, a deal was signed last year between then-President Donald Trump and militants that the Taliban will not attack any troops if all foreign forces would leave by May 1st.
To aid the withdrawing troops, 12 F-18 fighters and Six B-52 long-range bombers have been deployed to protect the returning forces of 25,000 service members and 16,000 civilian contractors. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that while the Taliban is launching 80-120 attacks every day on the Afghan Government, they have not launched any attack on the US or coalition forces since their withdrawal started from May 1st.
For nearly 20 years, American forces and their allies are struggling to eliminate the Taliban and stop the attacks in the west. This all started when the 9/11 attack, led by Osama Bin Laden, killed around 3000 people. The Taliban protected Osama Bin Laden and refused to hand him over to the Government. As a response, the US Government launched airstrikes against Afghanistan. Although the Taliban was removed from power, it never disappeared and still manages to launch deadly attacks on the Afghan Government. In fact, last week, a car bombing took place in Pul-e-Alam, Logar province. This incident killed 30 people and left 110 injured- out of which most were minors.
With the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, many fear that the country will fall back into the hands of the Taliban, increasing violence in the country.
SOURCE- BBC
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