Reuters: U.S. conducts air strikes as fighting rages in Afghan province
U.S aircraft carried out a dozen strikes in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday as fierce battles continued with Taliban insurgents around the town of Marjah near the provincial capital, a U.S. army spokesman said.
The strikes came a day after one U.S. service member was killed and two other Americans and a number of Afghan special forces soldiers were wounded during operations in the province, which has seen months of heavy fighting.
U.S. army spokesman Col. Michael Lawhorn said U.S. special forces were still in place on Wednesday, supporting Afghan army units in Marjah and Sangin district, further to the north, and air support had also been provided.
"U.S. forces have conducted 12 air strikes in support of operations in and around Marjah," he said.
Previous Post: BREAKING NEWS: Scores Of U.S. Troops Surrounded And Trapped By Taliban Forces In Marjah, Afghanistan
WNU Editor: 12 air-strikes and one AC-130 gunship were used to assist this group .... the White House does not want to use the word combat .... but that is combat in every-way.
More News On 2 U.S. Soldiers Wounded During Fighting In Afghanistan Being Finally Evacuated From The Battlefield
U.S. troops caught in Afghan fire fight evacuated -- CBS/AP
U.S. special forces team evacuated from Afghan firefight; American soldier killed, 2 wounded -- Al.com
Two Wounded U.S. Soldiers Evacuated From Battlefield In Afghanistan -- RFE
US launches airstrikes in Afghanistan after deadly firefight, evacuations -- FOX News
US servicemember killed in Helmand was part of major operation against Taliban -- Stars and Stripes
Afghan forces claim advances in Taliban-held district -- VOA
2 comments:
One bird down, one shot up and maybe run off, the RRF still on the ground. Sounds like everything was (and maybe still is) very close.
from Stars & Stripes:
KABUL, Afghanistan — The American servicemember killed in Helmand province Tuesday was involved in a major operation aimed at reclaiming territory held by the Taliban, who have threatened to overrun the entire province.
Marjah has where General McChrystal had his "government in a box" lo those many years ago, ready to go into effect after Marjah was cleared and held. .....The best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley.
This latest battle was reportedly against Taliban also, which is not supposed to happen. For the US, combat ended in 2014. According to the latest US "strategy" the US military only does train, advise and assist (TAA), plus anti-terrorism (against al-Qaeda).
But here, The US is involved in a major operation aimed at reclaiming territory held by the Taliban.
The US is "assisting" the ANA in its combat, and is not in combat itself. --hah
Meanwhile, in Helmand province, the focus of Obama's 70,000 troop surge (he says 30,000, a lie), according to LWJ:
"Of Helmand’s 13 districts, five are known to be controlled by the Taliban (Nowzad, Musa Qala, Baghran, Dishu, and Sangin), and another five are heavily contested (Nahr-i-Sarraj, Kajaki, Nad Ali, Garmsir and Khanashin). Of the remaining three districts, The Long War Journal believes two (Washir and Nawa-i-Barak) are contested, but the situation is unclear. "
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