ISLAMABAD – The U.S. is shifting combat and intelligence-gathering aircraftto Afghanistan as part of an intensified focus on the Taliban, now that thecampaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria is winding down,the commander of coalition air forces in Afghanistan said Wednesday.
Air Force Maj. Gen. James Hecker told reporters at the Pentagon in a videoteleconference from Kabul that on Feb. 1 the U.S. Central Commandofficially designated Afghanistan as its “main effort,” supplanting thecounter-Islamic State campaign in Iraq and Syria. Central Command isresponsible for all U.S. military operations in the broader Middle East aswell as Central Asia.
Hecker emphasized the importance of increased support from U.S.intelligence agencies, whose analysis and expertise help the militaryidentify targets to strike.
“This behind-the-scenes legwork allows us to hit the Taliban where it hurtsmost, whether it’s command-and-control … or their pocketbooks,” Heckersaid.
He said the U.S. now has 50 percent more MQ-9 Reaper drones providingintelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in Afghanistan, compared withlast year.
He said the U.S. also has added A-10 attack planes and will be addingcombat search-and-rescue aircraft.
Even as the U.S. adds air power, the size and capabilities of the Afghanair force are growing, Hecker said. The Afghans are now conducting morestrike missions than the Americans, he said.APP/AFP