An Afghan Air Force UH-60 Blackhawk piloted by an Afghan and American pilot fly in formation Dec. 8, 2018, while participating in the NATO led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan.
Source: dvidshub.net, By Staff Sgt. Clayton
On July 11, the Taliban announced that it had destroyed two Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters of the Afghan Air Force (AAF).
Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the group, claimed that the two helicopters were destroyed in what he called a “tactical attack” on Kunduz Airport in northeastern Afghanistan.
“The enemy also suffered casualties in this attack,” the spokesman said on Twitter without providing any addition details.
Some Afghan sources claimed that the Taliban targeted Kunduz Airport with mortars or rockets. Others, however, said that the attack was carried out with drones.
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A spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, Fawad Aman, denied the claims made by the Taliban, calling them a “lie” on Twitter.
“The claim of the terrorist Taliban about the rocket attack on the Kunduz airport and the damage to the Air force helicopters is a complete lie,” Aman said. “Do not believe the lies and poisonous propaganda of the terrorists.”
The Taliban currently holds the third of all districts and district centers in Afghanistan. The group has been advancing nonstop on several frontlines since May 1, when the US announced a plan to withdraw its troops from the country before September 11.
These gains didn’t came without a high cost. AAF airstrikes inflicted heavy human and material losses on the Taliban in the last few weeks. This explains why the group is so eager to target the AAF.
