KABUL - For the first time in many years, foreign forces carried out a drone strike against the Taliban in Badakhshan.
After many years US carry out drone strike against Afghan Taliban in a major shift in strategy
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In the past few weeks, the US-Forces in Afghanistan have stepped up air and drone strikes against the Taliban and Daesh and have extended their operations as far north as Badakhshan.
For the first time in years, foreign forces conducted a drone strike on Tuesday night in northern Badakhshan against Taliban hideouts, local officials said.
According to officials the drone strike was carried out in Raghistan district and as a result eight Taliban insurgents were killed and more than 15 others were wounded.
The drone strike also reportedly destroyed a cache of Taliban weapons, local officials said.
“In a series of ground and air operations, the NATO forces bombarded the enemy targets in Ghol Pala village in Raghistan district by using drones and as a result eight bodies of the enemy have been identified. Meanwhile, a large number of enemy fighters have been wounded and a great number of their heavy weapons were destroyed,” said Abdul Khaliq Aqsai, Badakhshan police chief.
The Taliban confirmed that a drone strike had been carried out but said no casualties were reported.
A number of military analysts and Badakhshan provincial council members said that airstrikes in the province will help government troops bring the security situation in the province under control.
“The casualty toll inflicted against the Taliban by airstrikes in one hour, was not done by our security forces in months. We ask the central government to increase the airstrikes in Badakhshan,” said Bashir Samim provincial council member.
“We welcome the airstrikes against anti-government armed militants in Badakhshan. The elimination of the Taliban from Badakhshan will not be possible in a short time if the airstrikes stop,” said Samad Sherzad a civil society activist.
The Badakhshan police chief Abdul Khaliq Aqsai welcomed the operation against the Taliban and asked for an increase in airstrikes against the insurgent strongholds by both foreign and Afghan forces.
“We ask government to continue the airstrikes for supporting the ground forces and for eliminating the anti-government armed militants from the province,”Aqsai said.
Currently, Wardoj and Yamgan districts are fully controlled by the Taliban and clashes with security forces are regular in at least ten other districts.
