Can air power alone win a war?

Most military historians (at least those not employed by the U.S. Air Force) agree that it’s true. No country has ever won a war or achieved its stated political objectives without committing ground troops or at least using warships. But some believe that when it comes to air warfare, history is bunk.

Who gave Stinger missiles to Afghanistan?

Engineer Ghaffar, of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s Hezb-i-Islami, brought down the first Hind gunship with a Stinger on September 25, 1986 near Jalalabad. As part of Operation Cyclone, the CIA eventually supplied nearly 500 Stingers (some sources claim 1,500–2,000) to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, and 250 launchers.

How did the Stinger missiles supplied by the US change the conflict in Afghanistan against the Soviets?

The U.S.-built Stinger antiaircraft missile, supplied to the mujahideen in very large numbers beginning in 1986, struck a decisive blow to the Soviet war effort as it allowed the lightly armed Afghans to effectively defend against Soviet helicopter landings in strategic areas.

What is the advantage of having an air power during war?

Strategic advantages of height, speed and reach, as well as weapons delivery systems, have transformed air superiority into a key element of conducting war. Therefore, strategic air power will always be a dominant strategy, but only when coupled with ground warfare, as air superiority alone does not win wars.

Will Afghan forces be able to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan?

A Taliban fighter looks on as he stands at the city of Ghazni, Afghanistan on 14 August, 2021. The Taliban now control two-thirds of Afghanistan, including half of its provincial capitals. Experts say that Afghan forces have adequate training and equipment, but often lack the will to fight.

How has the US-Taliban agreement affected enemy-initiated attacks?

In each three-month period since 29 February 2020, the date of the US-Taliban agreement, there were significantly more enemy-initiated attacks than in their corresponding quarters the previous year.

Is the US military overoptimistic about Afghanistan’s military capability?

Taliban fighters. The US aid spending watchdog found the US military to be persistently overoptimistic about the Afghan military capability. Photograph: Ghaith Abdul-Ahad Taliban fighters. The US aid spending watchdog found the US military to be persistently overoptimistic about the Afghan military capability. Photograph: Ghaith Abdul-Ahad

How many cities have the Taliban seized in Afghanistan?

The insurgents have seized half of the country’s 34 provincial capitals, including it’s second and third-largest cities, and now control two-thirds of the entire country. Taliban fighters are now entering the capital city Kabul, reports say.