The Taliban announced Wednesday that this week, they will launch their annual spring offensive against the Afghan government.
In a statement, the Taliban said it is "determined to prolong the ongoing jihad," The Associated Press reports, and will start the offensive on Friday. In previous years, fighting has increased between the Taliban and NATO forces and their allies in the spring as the snow melts. Over the past several weeks, there has also been an uptick in attacks across the northern and eastern parts of Afghanistan, with militants targeting areas that are usually not hit.
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