Kandahar city next target of US

Under a new US-led military command, NATO is reportedly planning an attack on militants in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan.

US military officers have made clear that they would soon focus on Kandahar city, as an offensive in Marjah, in Helmand province, winds down.

The plan however, has to have the final approval from the United States’ allies. No date has been set yet for the new arrangements to take effect.

More than 20,000 US troops are deployed in the south, including about 15,000 Marines and an army combat brigade, with more due to arrive under President Barack Obama’s plan to surge forces into the area.

About 121,000 US and NATO troops are deployed in Afghanistan, with the number set to rise to 150,000 by August — with most deployed to the south of the war-torn country.