Washington. June 10. INTERFAX-The Pentagon is discussing possible actions if the capital of Afghanistan or other parts of the country fall into the hands of the Taliban (banned in Russia - IF), senior administration officials told The New York Times.
According to the interlocutors of the publication, US Defense officials are actively discussing how to respond to the potential consequences of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
Officials said that decisions on the possible authorization of airstrikes after the withdrawal of troops have not yet been made. One option, however, is to recommend that U.S. military aircraft or armed drones intervene in a major crisis, such as the fall of Kabul.
As one of the officials noted, US intervention in the siege of Kandahar, which is the second largest city in Afghanistan, is less likely.
It is unlikely that the US will provide additional air support to Afghan forces in rural areas, many of which are under the control of the Taliban, the interlocutors said.
The publication clarifies that additional airstrikes will require the approval of US President Joe Biden.
Earlier, Biden and representatives of his administration said that with the withdrawal of the US military from Afghanistan, air support will also stop. Exceptions can be made for airstrikes against terrorist groups that may affect American interests.
