The US today raids the Taliban in Helmand province, the first offensive since Washington and rebels signed a peace agreement on February 29.

Taliban fighters "violently attacked a checkpoint of the Afghan National Security Force. We launched a defensive air strike to circumvent this attack," said Sonny Leggett, a force spokesman. The US in Afghanistan today wrote on Twitter, emphasizing Washington's commitment to peace but will protect Afghan forces if needed.

"The Taliban leader has promised the international community that they will reduce violence and not increase attacks. We call on the Taliban to stop unnecessary attacks and maintain commitments," he wrote.

This is the first time the US has attacked the Taliban since the two sides signed an agreement on February 29, in which the United States and foreign forces will leave Afghanistan within 14 months, the Taliban and Kabul will exchange prisoners. .

Following the signing of the agreement, the Taliban continued to attack Afghan forces from March 2, although unnamed sources said the Taliban would limit attacks on foreign forces.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense said there had been clashes between the Taliban and Afghan security forces in nine provinces over the past 24 hours, including Helmand.

The Afghan battlefield is the longest American war, with some 2,400 American soldiers killed since 2001, when Washington decided to send troops to the country after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Pentagon maintains about 13,000 troops in Afghanistan.