Afghanistan's Taliban announce annual spring offensive
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban have announced their annual spring offensive in Afghanistan, at a time when insurgents are already regularly launching attacks and battling security forces.
The insurgent group said Wednesday that the "Al-Khandaq" offensive is focused on capturing and killing Americans and their supporters.
The onset of spring has traditionally brought an uptick in violence in Afghanistan, as melting snows allow fighters to more easily traverse the mountainous terrain.
But in recent years the Taliban and an Islamic State affiliate have carried out near-daily attacks in all seasons. The Taliban have seized control of districts across the country and regularly target Kabul, the capital.
The U.S.