US US deploying B-52 bombers to protect withdrawing troops in Afghanistan
The United States has approved the deployment of at least six B-52 bombers and permitted a temporary increase in the number of US troops in Afghanistan to protect withdrawing US and NATO troops from the war-torn country, reported TOLOnews.
This came after the Taliban earlier accused the US of violating the Doha deal by extending their stay beyond 1 May - a deadline agreed upon by the US under the 2020 Doha deal. In a veiled threat, the insurgent group asked the foreign forces to leave the country by 1 May.
The Taliban threat came after US president Joe Biden announced an unconditional withdrawal of foreign troops by 11 September this year.
John Kirby, the spokesperson of the US Department of Defense, said, the bomber deployment was approved by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin along with an extension of the carrier USS Eisenhower’s current tour in the Middle East as the military anticipates potential attacks by the Taliban and works to send signals to deter them.
Kirby also informed that the military equipment, currently deployed in the country, will either be sent back to the US or redeployed in the region.
Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, during his recent visit to Afghanistan, had also warned the Taliban against attacking withdrawing forces. He said any attack on the forces would draw a strong response from the US military.
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