US air strikes hit Taliban in Afghanistan

The US military says it has launched air strikes against the Taliban in Afghanistan in the first attack since a brief ceasefire last month.

US forces have carried out two sets of air strikes against the Taliban, in western and southern Afghanistan. Source: Sipa USA Luka Dakskobler / SOPA Images/Si

US forces have carried out two sets of air strikes against the Taliban, in western and southern Afghanistan, a US military spokesman says.

Elsewhere in the south, Afghan officials said the Taliban set off a roadside bomb and ambushed a police convoy, killing 10 Afghan policemen.

The US strikes against the Taliban were the first following a brief ceasefire declared by the insurgents for the Eid holiday last month.

A US military spokesman, Colonel Sonny Leggett, said one set of air strikes took place on Friday afternoon in western Farah province, targeting 25 Taliban fighters who were attacking Afghan forces.

Hours earlier, on Thursday night, the US air forces struck an unknown number of Taliban in southern Kandahar province, he said.

There was no immediate comment from the Taliban.

Since the signing of the US-Taliban peace agreement at the end of February, US forces have only once before announced a strike against the Taliban, in defence of Afghan forces.

Leggett did not elaborate on the latest air strikes or their targets.