Afghanistan War News Updates -- July 8, 2011

FLYING DEBRIS - Afghan commandos shield their faces from flying debris after loading a wounded commando on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a village clearing operation in the Zhari district in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, July 6, 2011. The commandos, supported by service members assigned to Special Operations Task Force South, found and destroyed several caches, which included weapons, homemade explosives and materials to make roadside bombs. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel P. Shook

Helmet Footage Reveals Diggers In Action -- The Australian

HELMET-cam footage taken by an Australian soldier in Afghanistan show special forces troops withdrawing from an Afghan village in northern Helmand province, boarding helicopters as insurgent bullets strike the ground around them.

In a rare briefing to reporters, the usually secretive Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) revealed details of its activities in southern Afghanistan, including some recent operations.

That was presented by Lieutenant Colonel Grant (first name only for security reasons), a veteran of three tours of Afghanistan and most recently SOTG commander in Oruzgan province.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Cmdr: Aussie troops keen but tired in Afghanistan -- AP
Battle footage shows Afghan insurgent 'using child as human shield' -- Sydney Morning Herald
Defence reveals human side of Afghan ops -- Sydney Morning Herald

Combined Force Kills Insurgents, Seizes Weapons -- U.S. Department of Defense
Three Germany-based U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes
Afghan border police overrun in remote east -- Stars and Stripes

NATO Says Airstrike in Afghan Province Killed Women and Children -- New York Times
NATO admits civilian deaths in Afghanistan -- Washington Post
NATO Admits Afghan Civilian Deaths, Probes Claims -- Radio Free Europe
Afghan protest at civilian deaths 'in Nato air strike' -- BBC

Pakistani, Afghan, US militaries discuss border tensions -- AFP
Afghanistan, Pakistan to coordinate amid cross-border confusion -- Reuters
Border war stokes Af-Pak tensions at key juncture -- Asia One/AFP

Canada ends combat mission in Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes/AP
Taliban claims responsibility for end of Canadian combat mission -- Vancouver Sun/Post Media News
After 3,468 days, Afghanistan war over for Canada -- Telegraph Journal
Leaving Afghanistan behind -- CNews

Ambassador Eikenberry To Leave Afghanistan -- NPR
Segregating Taliban and Qaeda for Afghan peace talks 'recipe for disaster': UN expert -- New Kerala