US conducts first air raids against Taliban since ceasefire ends.

KABUL -- The United States military says it has conducted its first air raids against the Taliban since a rare ceasefire between the armed group and Afghan government forces ended more than a week ago. There was no immediate comment from the Taliban following the announcement on Friday. Colonel Sonny Leggett, spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan, said one set of air raids took place on Friday afternoon in western Farah province, targeting 25 Taliban fighters who were attacking Afghan forces. Hours earlier, on Thursday night, the US air forces struck an unknown number of Taliban in southern Kandahar

province. "These were the 1st US airstrikes against (the Taliban) since the start of the Eid ceasefire, " Leggett wrote. "We reiterate: All sides must reduce violence to allow the peace process to take hold, " he added. Leggett did not elaborate on the air raids or their targets. However, an Afghan government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media, was quoted as...