US planes launched more weapons in September than any month since November 2010
Jack Serle & Jessica Purkiss
More US bombs and missiles were dropped on Afghanistan in September than in any other month for nearly seven years.
American planes launched 751 weapons last month, higher than any month since November 2010, new data from the US Air Force shows.
The US military uses various metrics to measure the intensity of its air operations, of which weapons released is one. It is not exactly the same as air strikes, as multiple weapons can be released in a single strike.
The Bureau has requested data on the number of airstrikes carried out in September but we are yet to receive it from Resolute Support, the US-led Nato mission in Afghanistan.
American strikes are hitting insurgents and terrorists in Afghanistan with greater intensity. With three months to go until the end of 2017 the US has already carried out more strikes than the last two years combined. Defence Secretary James Mattis has said that under President Trump, international forces have carried out more strikes than in any other year since 2012.
In August, General Nicholson said air support to Afghan forces would be ramping up, following the unveiling of the President Trump’s new Afghan strategy.
