Afghanistan War News Updates -- July 15, 2011

First U.S. Troops In Drawdown Depart Afghanistan -- CNN

The first batch of U.S. soldiers set to leave Afghanistan left earlier this week, beginning a drawdown of 10,000 U.S. troops scheduled to depart by year's end.

Some 650 U.S. Army soldiers left the northeastern province of Parwan on Wednesday, according to Lt. Commander Colette Murphy, a spokeswoman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

Military officials say this is the first group of soldiers whose redeployment will not be replaced by a new rotation of fresh troops.

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More News On Afghanistan

First US troops leave Afghanistan as drawdown begins -- AFP
U.S. drawdown begins in Afghanistan, first troops leave -- Reuters
US starts Afghan troop drawdown with pull out of 650 soldiers -- M&C
First U.S. soldiers depart Afghanistan as drawdown begins -- CNN
First US Troops Begin to Leave Afghanistan -- Voice of America
U.S. Troop Withdrawals From Afghanistan Begin -- Radio Free Europe
10 000 US soldiers leave Afghanistan -- IoL News

Combined Security Force Kills Several Insurgents -- US Department of Defense
French soldiers killed in Afghanistan totals 70 -- People's Daily
9 civilians killed in violence in Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/AP
At least 6 die in suicide attack at Kandahar mosque -- CNN
Roadside Bomb Kills 5 in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
Civilians killed in Afghanistan blast -- BBC

IEDs responsible for many Afghan deaths -- UPI
Civilian deaths in Afghan War hit record high -- McClatchy News
Afghan civilian deaths up 15% this year, U.N. report says -- L.A. Times
Afghanistan: 'Deadliest six months' for civilians -- BBC

General Petraeus leaves a still deadly Afghanistan to head CIA -- Globe And Mail
Snipers: Another Threat to U.S. Forces in Southern Afghanistan -- National Journal
The Afghan Supply Line Shifts From Pakistan To Central Asia -- Strategy Page
Biometrics Help Nab Afghan Prison Escapees -- Danger Room

Ahmed Wali Karzai’s killer had been a Taliban foe -- Washington Post
Karzai's killer traveled to Pak to meet Taliban insurgents weeks before assassination -- Yahoo News/ANI
Afghan Leader Holds Prayers For Assassinated Brother -- FOX News/AP
Taliban explain Ahmad Wali's killing -- Asia Times
Death of Karzai's brother stirs questions over U.S. strategy in Afghanistan -- Xinhuanet
Dining With the Karzais -- Rachek Nolan, New York Times
Suicide attack at Karzai memorial service underscores deteriorating security -- Tom A. Peter, Christian Science Monitor