Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            U.S. Central Command
                CENTCOM
        Search
                    Search CENTCOM:
                        Search
                Search CENTCOM:
                    Search
    Home

    ABOUT US
    
        COMMAND PRIORITIES

    LEADERSHIP

    COMPONENT COMMANDS

    HISTORY

    POSTURE STATEMENT

    CENTCOM AOR
    
        CENTCOM COALITION

    OPERATIONS AND EXERCISES
    
        USMTM

    CONTACT
    
        OPERATIONAL CONTRACT SUPPORT

    COMMUNITY RELATIONS

    THEATRE MEDICAL CLEARANCE

    INNOVATION VENDOR PORTAL

    MILITARY MEMBER INNOVATION PORTAL

    MEDIA
    
        SOCIAL MEDIA

    NEWS ARTICLES

    PRESS RELEASES

    STATEMENTS

    IMAGERY

    VIDEOS

    TRANSCRIPTS

    VISITORS AND PERSONNEL
    
        FAMILY CENTER

    FAMILY READINESS

    CENTCOM WEBMAIL

    SOCIAL MEDIA SECURITY

    ACCOUNTABILITY

    EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

    USCENTCOM UNCLASSIFIED REGULATIONS

    FOIA LIBRARY

    INNOVATION OASIS

    WELCOME GUIDE  Home
  MEDIA
  NEWS ARTICLES
  News Article View
 News
 U.S., Afghan forces target Taliban drug labs, hit ‘where it hurts’ By Lisa Ferdinando
                DoD News, Defense Media Activity
 U.S. and Afghan forces conducted a series of strikes over the past 24 hours against Taliban drug labs, to target the revenue streams of the terrorists, according to theResolute Supportmission and U.S. Forces Afghanistan commander. 






A KC-10 Extender from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, refuels an F-22 Raptor from the 95th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in support of a new offensive campaign in Afghanistan Nov. 19, 2017. Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and United States Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A) launched a series of ongoing attacks to hit the Taliban where they are most vulnerable: their revenue streams. Together, Afghan and U.S. forces conducted combined operations to strike drug labs and command-and-control nodes in northern Helmand province. These types of strikes represent the highest level of trust and cooperation between ANDSF and USFOR-A.




A KC-10 Extender from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, refuels an F-22 Raptor from the 95th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in support of a new offensive campaign in Afghanistan Nov. 19, 2017. Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and United States Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A) launched a series of ongoing attacks to hit the Taliban where they are most vulnerable: their revenue streams. Together, Afghan and U.S. forces conducted combined operations to strike drug labs and command-and-control nodes in northern Helmand province. These types of strikes represent the highest level of trust and cooperation between ANDSF and USFOR-A.
        New Offensive Campaign
            A KC-10 Extender from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, refuels an F-22 Raptor from the 95th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in support of a new offensive campaign in Afghanistan Nov. 19, 2017. Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and United States Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A) launched a series of ongoing attacks to hit the Taliban where they are most vulnerable: their revenue streams. Together, Afghan and U.S. forces conducted combined operations to strike drug labs and command-and-control nodes in northern Helmand province. These types of strikes represent the highest level of trust and cooperation between ANDSF and USFOR-A.

            SHARE IMAGE:

                Download Image
                    Image Details
                    
                    Photo By: Tech. Sgt. Gregory Brook
                    
                    VIRIN: 171119-F-OH871-1336 The combined operations struck seven Taliban drug labs and one command-and-control node in northern Helmand province, Army Gen.John W. Nicholsontold Pentagon reporters today. Nicholson, who spoke via teleconference from Kabul, Afghanistan, said northern Helmand is the so-called emirate of the Taliban where the terrorists have enjoyed relative freedom of action and where much of their drug enterprise is located. “Specifically, in striking northern Helmand and the drug enterprises there, we're hitting the Taliban where it hurts, which is their finances,” he said. The Afghan air force led the strikes yesterday with A-29 Super Tucano attacks against drug labs and then, last night, they were supported by U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortresses and other strike aircraft, to include the F-22 Raptor, the general said. **Taliban Evolved into Narco-Insurgency** The terrorists are increasingly turning to narcotics trafficking as well as illegal mining, kidnapping and murder for hire to fund their insurgency, Nicholson said. “To some extent it's fair to say that this movement has evolved into a narco-insurgency so their profits from narcotics now exceed their operating expenses,” he said. “We find that the leadership of the Taliban fight over the money and it's often divided along tribal lines.”







00:25
    
    

    
    
    
    VIDEO  | 00:25
            |
            Resolute Support Commander: ‘Lay Down Your Arms’ He said law enforcement officials have told him that about 4 percent of the heroin in the United States is from Afghanistan -- and they say that number might grow. Nicholson said the strikes did not target the poppy farmers, but rather the production facilities. He explained that the farmers are forced by terrorists to grow the crop that is processed into opium, morphine and then heroin. The general complimented the Afghan government and security forces for their efforts in the fight. The security forces are brave and have sacrificed much, he said, adding that their capacity is growing and they are doing well in the battlefield. “Our message to the enemy is that ‘You cannot win the war; it's time to lay down your arms and enter into the reconciliation process,’” he said. “If they don't, they're going to be confined to irrelevance as the Afghans expand their control of the country -- or death.” “These are the choices they face,” Nicholson added. 







00:37
    
    

    
    
    
    VIDEO  | 00:37
            |
            Cooperation with Afghanistan ‘Never Been Better,’ Official Says **New Authorities Allowed Strikes** Three of the strikes were in Kajaki district, four in Musa Qalah district and one in Sangin district. The strikes were carried out under new authorities in the current U.S. Afghan strategy, he explained. Under the new strategy, which is not yet 90 days old, U.S. forces can “attack the enemy across the breadth and the depth of the battlespace,” as well as their financial networks and revenue streams, the general said. Nicholson noted previous authorities required U.S. forces to be operating in proximity to Afghan forces, so the U.S. forces could strike in defense of the Afghan forces. However, targets such as support infrastructure, training bases and infiltration lanes really were not included under those previous provisions, he explained. The combined strikes yesterday were the result of many hours of planning and the result of trust and close cooperation between the United States and Afghanistan, the general said. “Our message to the Afghans is very straightforward: ‘We are with you, and we will stay with you,’” he said. “Their fight on terror is the most important fight in the world, and it's a fight on behalf of us, as well as them,” Nicholson said. It's a fight that secures the U.S., the coalition and Afghanistan, he added. (Follow Lisa Ferdinando on Twitter: @FerdinandoDoD)
 SHARE
 PRINT
 Related Videos Full Event Video: Resolute Support Commander Updates Reporters on Afghanistan Operations
 Related Links Defense Department Press Briefing by General Nicholson via Teleconference From Kabul, Afghanistan
 About UsCommand PrioritiesLeadershipComponent
   CommandsHistoryPosture Statement
   Area of
   ResponsibilityCENTCOM Coalition
   Operations And
   ExercisesOperation Inherent
   ResolveResolute Support
   MediaSocial MediaNews ArticlesPress ReleasesVideo And Imagery
   Visitors And
   PersonnelFamily ReadinessCENTCOM WebmailSocial MediaSecurityAccountabilityEmergency
   Preparedness
   ContactCommunity Relations
                    Stay Connected
                
                Privacy & Security  Inspector General  FOIA  Privacy Act
            

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil