Taliban Victory in Afghanistan 'Not a Foregone Conclusion'

Top U.S. defense and military officials are holding out hope the Afghan government will be able to withstand the latest Taliban military offensive, launched days ago as U.S. and coalition troops began leaving the country. تحرير قاعدة عسكرية للعدو في مديرية بغلان المركزية pic.twitter.com/bQ0HbRxUIk 8 Taliban including 3 of their key #commanders and senior members were killed in outskirts of Lashkar Gah city, #Helmand province as a result an airstrike today. Also, shadow deputy #governor of Taliban for Helmand with 2 other terrorists were wounded as a result of the strike. pic.twitter.com/lKqfYnvK5W

Provincial officials from across Afghanistan have warned of mounting losses in a series of attacks, some with heavy casualties, since the United States officially began its withdrawal on May 1. But the Pentagon insisted Thursday that the withdrawal was "going according to plan," with no surprises. "It's not a foregone conclusion, in my professional military estimate, that the Taliban automatically win and Kabul falls," General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at the Pentagon. "I'm a personal witness … that the Afghan security forces can fight," Milley, who had previously served in Afghanistan, added. "We've been supporting them, for sure, but they've been leading the fight."