Monday, July 1, 2013

Afghanistan War News Updates -- July 1, 2013

U.S. Marines and Georgian soldiers conduct a dismounted patrol during Operation Northern Lion in Mohammad Abad village in Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 24, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alejandro Pena

U.S. Casualties Hit 5-Year Low In Afghanistan As Troops’ Role Turns To Advising -- McClatchy News

KABUL, Afghanistan — The shift to Afghan security forces leading in combat and the ongoing reduction of U.S. troops here have driven American casualties during the first half of 2013 to the lowest level in five years.

"Afghan National Security Forces are primarily the units in contact with enemy forces, rather than ISAF personnel," Lt. Tamarac Dyer, a spokeswoman for the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) wrote in an emailed response to questions about casualties.

In the first six months of the year, 72 American troops were killed in Afghanistan, according to icasualties.org, a web site that tracks casualties. The last year when casualties were that low for the same period was 2008. Then, 66 Americans died in between January and June, and 155 were killed in the full year. The worst year for U.S. casualties was 2010, when 499 Americans died. All told, more than 2,200 U.S. troops have been killed since the war began in 2001.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

June deadliest month for troops in Afghanistan in 9 months -- Stars and Stripes
Nearly 300 Afghan police killed in 1 month as casualties continue to mount -- Washington Post/AP
Nearly 300 Afghan Police Killed In One Month -- Radio Free Europe
Nearly 300 Afghan police were killed in past month -- Stars and Stripes
Afghan conflict in June takes U.S. toll -- UPI
180 Afghan civilians killed within month: official -- Xinhuanet
50 Taliban militants killed, 70 injured in Nangarhar province -- Khaama Press
Afghan police commander and aides killed -- Al Jazeera
Taliban shadow district governor killed in Nimroz province -- Threat matrix
Taliban district chief killed in Nimroz province of Afghanistan -- Khaama Press
Pakistani suicide bomber arrested in Jalalabad city -- Khaama Press
Hard fight remains in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province -- USA Today
US wants Afghanistan to finalize security pact within 3 months -- Khaama Press
Obama says managing Afghanistan exit is a priority -- Reuters
US base in Afghanistan teeming as the long road home begins -- Stars and Stripes
Top U.S. forces general speaks about evolution of Afghanistan -- Marines.mil
US marks 4 years since soldier captured in Afghanistan -- FOX News/AFP
Our troops could be in Afghanistan until 2019: Astonishing revelation from a senior military source as Cameron pays a surprise visit to British forces -- Daily Mail
Afghan Army May Need NATO Support Until 2020, U.K. Official Says -- Bloomberg
As U.S. Pulls Out, Feuds Split Afghanistan's Ruling Family -- Wall Street Journal
Afghanistan's Next Generation Wants Taliban Held Accountable -- NPR
High turnout expected in Afghanistan presidential election -- Khaama Press
Increased fighting takes toll on health care in Afghanistan -- IRIN
Afghan-Pakistani ties in a tailspin, with botched British diplomacy blamed -- The Guardian
Pakistan tells Britain it backs Afghan peace efforts -- FOX News/AFP
India, Pakistan Can Play Role in Afghanistan's Development -- Voice of America
A Bad Month in Afghanistan -- Geoffrey Norman, Weekly Standard
From Afghanistan’s tumultuous past, a story of survival -- Toronto Star

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