At least 30,000 people have fled the Helmand province in southern Afghanistan as violence increases between Taliban fighters and Afghan security forces.  A Sunday night attack from the Taliban prompted the United States to call an airstrike to defend Afghan forces.

On Wednesday, two Afghan helicopters crashed, one was evacuating wounded soldiers while the other was deploying Afghan soldiers to Nawa district to drive back the Taliban. Nine service members were killed.

An American military spokesperson said that the recent attacks in Helmand were “not consistent” with a U.S.-Taliban deal signed in February.

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