A new spike in U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan has pushed the year’s total to surpass the 500 conducted in 2015, according to a Reuters report. The increase comes as the U.S. continues to struggle to exit the fragile country. Military officials say American warplanes have executed about 700 strikes so far in 2016. The U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan was officially declared over in 2014. However, ongoing violence and new Afghan moves to contain ISIS as well as the Taliban have kept American forces on the lines. On Tuesday, Afghan police reportedly killed an ISIS commander in Ghor province, which led to the kidnapping and execution of dozens of civilians as revenge. U.S. military spokesman Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland said the increase in airstrikes was caused by “additional authorities U.S. forces received and due to the Afghan change in strategy to offensive operations.” He added, “The new authorities have allowed the U.S. to be more proactive and deliberate in supporting this year's Afghan offensive operations and in aggressively targeting [Islamic State].”
