U.S. military launches strike on Afghan city taken by Taliban
The U.S. military says it has carried out an airstrike on the northern Afghan city of Kunduz that was captured by the Taliban the previous day.
U.S. Army Col. Brian Tribus, spokesman for the U.S. and NATO missions in Afghanistan, says the airstrike early Sept. 29 was conducted “in order to eliminate a threat to the force.”
The city fell Sept. 28 with the Taliban overrunning government buildings and hoisting their flag in the city square.
Sarwar Hussaini, a provincial police spokesman, says Afghan forces have launched an operation on several fronts around Kunduz to try and retake the city.
Kunduz is the first city seized by the Taliban since their regime was overthrown in a U.S.-led invasion in 2001. The city’s fall comes as President Ashraf Ghani marks one year office. AP
B-1 bombers coming under one command
The Eighth Air Force, headquartered at Louisiana’s Barksdale Air Force Base 40 years now, will see an increase in assets and capabilities in the coming days.
The force that now commands all of the Air Force’s nuclear-capable bombers will draw into its fold the nation’s two B-1 bomber wings, located at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. They will be part of the stable of bomber forces already under the Eighth, the all-nuclear 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., armed with B-2 Spirit bombers, and the 2nd and 5th Bomb Wings, bases respectively at Barksdale and Minot Air Force Base, N.D.
Eighth Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Richard Clark tells The Shreveport Times the historic significance of this is really bringing the bomber community back together under one command. AP