Afghan War Update:US Air Force A-10s,UAV Rain Fire on Taliban in Extended Air Operation,USF-A Reveals

New details received from Task Force-Southwest today,30 May,indicate that US Forces-Afghanistan conducted a series of precision strikes over a ten day period,17-26 May 2018,killing more than 70 senior Taliban leaders.Outgoing USF-A and NATO Resolute Support commander GEN John Nicholson,US Army,added:
These strikes represent one of the largest blows to Taliban leadership in the last year,the cumulative effects of which will be felt nationwide for quite some time.*
The most devastating of the strikes was previously reported by this blog on 29 May,having occurred on 24 May.In the course of the HIMARS rocket artillery barrage by US Marines,four HIMARS rockets destroyed a known Taliban command and control node in Musa Qalah during a high-level gathering of Taliban commanders.Among the more than 50 casualties was the deputy shadow governor of Helmand Province;multiple Taliban district governors;intelligence commanders;and key provincial leadership from Kandahar,Kunduz,Herat,Farah,Uruzgu and Helmand Provinces.*
Also on 24 May,USAF A-10s struck a Taliban Red Unit commander for Helmand and his associate as they transited Sangin district.On 25 May,a shadow district governor was killed and a shadow district headquarters was destroyed in Nahr-e-Saraj by A-10s.*
On 26 May,an MQ-1c Gray Eagle UAV killed a senior IED facilitator who had coordinated IED operations against the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces;international forces;and the Afghan people for 13 years.Within the same period of 17-26 May,more than 15 other Taliban Islamist extremists were killed in separate strikes throughout Helmand.*
In conclusion,GEN Nicholson promised that:
As we continue the season of talking and fighting,we will continue to increase pressure on the Taliban and remain vigilant to opportunities for negotiated peace.

Afghan War:US Marines Attack High Level Taliban Targets

According to US Forces-Afghanistan,on 24 May 2018,US Marines in Task Force-Southwest conducted a strike on Taliban militants using the M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).The strike was aimed at a command and control node for high-level Taliban leaders in Musa Qala district,Helmand Province.The structure targeted was a known gathering point for the Islamist extremist leaders,where they planned and facilitated attacks on the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces,who are working to secure the area's elections.
TF-SW commander BGEN Benjamin T. Watson,USMC,explained:
One way we support our Afghan partners is with kinetic strikes so they are able to maintain the offensive.Strikes like this not only degrade Taliban operations,but also give our partners the ability to maintain pressure against a weakened enemy.*
TF-SW has been deployed in Helmand since April 2017 to train,advise and assist the Afghan National Army 215th Corps and the Afghan National Police 505th Zone.*
US Forces-Afghanistan was set up in 2005 and is a US-led mission to direct and enable US military operations in support of NATO's Resolute Support Mission,sustaining campaign momentum in the besieged nation.Currently there are about 14,000 US troops in Afghanistan.Besides training the ANDSF,they engage the enemy in combat operations such as air and artillery strikes,as well as counter-terrorist raids alongside ANDSF Special Operations Forces.