The United States decided to send a high-powered tanks unit in Afghanistan, for the first time since the initiation of conflict, announced the American military officials, in what appears to be a change of tactics used against Taliban insurgents.
The sending of type M1 Abrams tanks, which will be used by American soldiers in southwestern Afghanistan, will allow attacking the insurgents farther. This type of tank weighing 68 tons and propelled by an engine similar to that of an aircraft is equipped with a gun with a caliber of 120 millimeters, which can destroy a building by more than 1.5 kilometers away.
Despite Afghan strategy which aims for the protection of civilians, statistics provided by ISAF command (International Security Assistance Force) shows that in the last two months, the operations of U.S. troops in Afghanistan have intensified.
An U.S. official said that the tanks will be used initially in Helmand province, where U.S. troops are involved in clashes with Taliban cells equipped with automatic weapons, grenade launchers and crafted explosive devices. Initially will be sent 16 M1 Abrams tanks, but their number could be supplemented if it will be necessary.
“Tanks give you immediate, protected firepower and mobility to address a threat that’s beyond the range” of machine guns that are mounted on the mine-resistant trucks that most U.S. troops use in Afghanistan”, said David Johnson, senior researcher at Rand Corporation.
