KABUL – Statistics by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) show thatthe US army has dropped 562 bombs on militant targets in Afghanistan duringApril.

In April, US army also brought back C-17 aircrafts on strike after a breakof eight months.

“The terrorists announced an offensive named Khandaq and increased theirthreats with the help of regional intelligence, therefore we increased theactivities of Afghanistan’s defense forces. And meanwhile, air strikes alsoincreased amidst an increase in defense activities,” Defense Ministryspokesman Mohammad Radmanish said.

An MP meanwhile stressed the need for a change in Afghan forces’ strategyagainst insurgents.

“I don’t think that the reshuffling of individuals will be effective unlessthere is a change in strategy and planning (of government forces in theirfight against insurgents),” said MP Fatima Aziz.

This comes as a three-star general who leads the Joint Special OperationsCommand overseeing some of the most sensitive US commando missions has beenpicked to lead the nearly 17-year-old Afghan war, US officials told Reuters.

Army Lieutenant General Scott Miller would replace Army General John “Mick”Nicholson, who after more than two years has become the longest-serving UScommander of international forces battling the Taliban insurgency.

Nicholson was expected to serve through most if not all of the summermonths that historically have brought some of the heaviest fighting inAfghanistan, two of the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“If the new (US forces) commander addresses the necessities of our armedforces on time and provides them with the required support, this will be agreat success and it will save us from casualties and collapse (of areas toinsurgents),” military affairs analyst Tahir Yurghal said.

Nicholson began his mission as NATO’s Resolute Support and US ForcesCommander in March 2016.