B-52 Wreaks Precise Deadly Havoc on Taliban in Afghanistan

An American B-52 bomber hit the Taliban with a record number of precision guided bombs in a 24-hour period during the stepped-up military campaign in the skies over northern Afghanistan, while the U.S. is starting to shift troops there from Iraq.

The troop move follows the American-led coalition's defeat of Islamic State militants in Iraq, Fox News reported. Western contractors said the drawdown had already started from a base in Iraq over the past week.

A statement by United States Forces-Afghanistan said B-52 strikes in northern Afghanistan in the Badakhshan province were started in order to destroy insurgent revenue sources, training facilities and support networks.

The statement said the bombing hoped to disturb "the planning and rehearsal of terrorist acts near the border with China and Tajikistan by such organizations as the East Turkistan Islamic Movement and others."

U.S. Forces-Afghanistan said the air strikes also destroyed stolen Afghan National Army vehicles that were in the process of "being converted to vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices."

According to the statement, a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress dropped 24 precision guided munitions on Taliban fighting positions, setting a record of the most guided munitions ever dropped from a B-52. Officials said the bomber was recently reconfigured with a conventional rotary launcher to increase its reach and lethality.

"The Taliban have nowhere to hide," said Gen. John Nicholson, commander, U.S. Forces-
Afghanistan. "There will be no safe haven for any terrorist group bent on bringing harm and destruction to this country.”

"The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield, therefore they inflict harm and suffering on innocent civilians. All they can do is kill innocent people and destroy what other people have built,"

U.S. Forces-Afghanistan said ongoing strikes in the Helmand province have degraded Taliban revenue sources, such as illegal drugs totaling $30 million.

U.S. precision strikes along with work by the Afghan Air Force and Afghan Special Security Forces also have prevented Taliban fighters from capturing Kunduz City and recapturing lost territory in other areas over the past year.

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