U.S. strikes Taliban in Afghanistan just 4 days after signing peace deal

(Image credit: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images)

published 4 March 2020

The Pentagon said early Wednesday that U.S. forces conducted "defensive" strikes against Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan, the first U.S. attack against the Taliban in 11 days. The U.S. and Taliban leaders signed a peace agreement on Saturday, but the Taliban then launched an offensive against Afghan troops in southern Helmand province, including 43 attacks on Tuesday, U.S. military spokesman Col. Sonny Leggett said. He called on the Taliban to stop the attack and uphold its commitments from the peace agreement.

The Taliban said Tuesday, and President Trump then confirmed, that the U.S. president and Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar had spoken on the phone Tuesday.

Trump said he and the Taliban leader had a "a very good talk," he believes the Taliban wants "to cease the violence" in Afghanistan, and "the relationship is very good that I have with the mullah."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.