{"id":42763,"date":"2019-10-01T18:09:36","date_gmt":"2019-10-01T18:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/10\/01\/afghan-forces-still-at-the-mercy-of-us-air-support-despite-huge-investment-into-afghan-air-force\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:49:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:49:28","slug":"afghan-forces-still-at-the-mercy-of-us-air-support-despite-huge-investment-into-afghan-air-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/10\/01\/afghan-forces-still-at-the-mercy-of-us-air-support-despite-huge-investment-into-afghan-air-force\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghan forces still at the mercy of US air support despite huge investment into Afghan air force"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. aircraft dropped more bombs in Afghanistan<\/a> in the month of August than during the past six years for that month as peace negotiations between the Taliban and U.S. entered into the final stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to an airstrike roll up provided by U.S. Air Forces Central Command, U.S. aircraft dropped 783 munitions in August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That month, Taliban<\/a> forces launched a deadly siege on the northern Afghan city of Kunduz even as Taliban and U.S. negotiators continued to forge forward with an agreement to end the nearly 18-year long war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B-52s were postured to respond to Taliban assaults of several urban centers that occurred in late August to early September but were not used, military officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taliban failed to capture Kunduz and other urban centers during its offensive blitz, and President Donald Trump eventually pulled the U.S. out of peace negotiations with the militant group in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the U.S. war in Afghanistan enters its 18th year, U.S. aircraft still appear to be doing much of the heavy lifting from moving cargo to conducting deadly strikes on Taliban and ISIS positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\t