US airstrikes continue despite peace deal progress

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: US airstrikes in Afghanistan continued at a steady rate in February, despite reaching a peace deal with the Taliban, as counter-terror operations targeted Daesh and al-Qaeda.

According to Air Forces Central Command statistics released March 12, in February, US manned and unmanned aircraft dropped 360 weapons—the lowest monthly total since the same month of 2019, but the second highest February on record since 2009. The total, down from January’s 415 tally, brings 2020’s total to 775 so far.

So far this year, US aircraft have airdropped 62,500 pounds of supplies, and flown 2,340 airlift and airdrop sorties, both at approximately the same rate as 2019, according to a report by Air Force Magazine.

The US and the Taliban signed a peace deal in Qatar on Feb. 19 after 18-month negotiations. As part of this, the Taliban will not target international forces in the country.(TOLOnews)