The US military has sent B-52 bombers, AC-130 gunships, and fighter jets into Afghanistan to battle the Taliban’s advances.
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers reportedly flew to Afghanistan from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets from aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, stationed in the Arabian Sea, are also joining the missions. However, they will not be involved in bombing, according to The Times, which broke the story.
Armed Reaper drones and AC-130 Spectre gunships are also contributing to the missions, of which at least five are being undertaken each day.
American defense sources told The Times that although US President Joe Biden set a deadline for withdrawal, there was always the intention to continue airstrikes after that date.
The latest deployment of gunships and bombers comes after the near-total withdrawal of American troops from the war-torn nation, which has consequently seen the Taliban make rapid gains.
Taliban insurgents captured two cities in two days at the weekend: their first provincial capital, Zaranj in Nimroz, and Sheberghan, in the northern province of Jawzjan. The group is marching towards more key cities.
The Pentagon estimates that the group now controls half of Afghanistan’s 419 district centers.