The United States has deployed fighter jets to Afghanistan to cover the withdrawal of its troops

The United States has deployed more heavy bombers and fighter jets to protect US and coalition troops withdrawing from AfghanistanBut they have not been the subject of direct attacks so far, the Pentagon said Thursday.

“In less than a week, the withdrawal of troops is proceeding as planned,” the defense secretary told reporters, Lloyd Austin.

The Chairman of the Pentagon Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley said that in order to defend the troops leaving the territory, Six B-52 long-range bombers and 12 F-18 fighters have been ordered to provide emergency support.

Milley said that while the insurgent groups Every day, the Taliban launch 80 to 120 attacks against Afghan government targetsor, since the start of the withdrawal on On May 1 “there was no attack on US and coalition forces.”

Almost 20 years after deploying troops to the country to oust the Taliban from power and persecute Al Qaeda after the attacks of September 11, 2001Last month, US President Joe Biden ordered the permanent withdrawal of 2,500 US servicemen and 16,000 civilian contractors.

Biden has set a withdrawal deadline on this year’s anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Austin and Milley pointed out that while the United States continues to work closely with Afghan security forces, the relationship will change with the withdrawal.

According to them, US support will continue through funding and “logistics on the horizon”: military support to US bases and ships located several miles apart, Austin said.

Milley stressed that, amid widespread expectations that the Taliban could take power from the government after the US pulls out, the demise of Afghan forces should not be assumed.

“The Afghan National Security Forces and the Afghan Government remain coherent at present,” Milley said. “The intention of the President of the United States is to support both.”

Milley added that the United States was in talks with the Afghan government on how to keep their air force operational in order to provide effective support to government troops on the ground..

The Afghan Air Force relies heavily on foreign technicians who are among the 16,000 retiring contractors.

“Much will depend on the security conditions on the ground,” Milley said. “The intention is to keep the Afghan air force in the air and provide them with ongoing maintenance support,” he added.

With information from AFP

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