Afghan security forces arrive at the Kunduz airport, April 30, 2015. Reuters/Omar Sobhani
Bloomberg: Afghan Forces Suffer Heavy Toll in First Taliban Battles
Afghan security forces are suffering record casualties in their first battles against the Taliban since the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan ended in December after more than 13 years.
The number of killed and wounded so far this year is about 70 percent higher than during the same period last year, said Colonel Brian Tribus, director of public affairs for NATO’s Afghanistan mission.
Last year’s casualty rates, which marked a fifth consecutive annual increase, were labeled in November as “not sustainable” by a top U.S. general. With Afghan forces now operating without the same U.S. and NATO support that they previously enjoyed, the body count has soared.
“We are taking so many casualties, that’s the reality,” said Afghan Interior Minister Nur al-haq Ulumi. “We are fighting by ourselves.”
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 4, 2015
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Rivalry with US heats up as Beijing builds in South China Sea -- Want China Times
As China Advances, Taiwan's Military Strategy Changes -- Stratfor
With New Rules, Japan Emerges in Pacific -- Defense News
The Indian Air Force's Big Problem: Not Enough Pilots! -- The Diplomat
US Troops, Ospreys, Helicopters Joining Nepal Quake Relief Efforts -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes
US Navy to Accompany Every US-Flagged Ship Passing Through Strait of Hormuz -- Spuntik
US Navy Bolsters Presence In Gulf -- Defense News/AFP
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Canada Plans Major Sub-Life Extension -- Defense News
Supreme Allied Commander Europe: Russia has scaled back long-range bomber patrols -- Alert 5
NATO allies, Sweden begin sub-hunting exercise -- Stars and Stripes
NATO starts anti submarine exercise in North Sea as tension with Russia rise -- Reuters
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US Army Cutting Helos, Troops in Europe -- Defense News
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Drone fight simmers in Congress -- The Hill
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Next round of U.S. optical spy satellites to start launching in 2018 -- Space Flight Now
US military sexual assault down but 'we have to do more', says Pentagon chief -- The Guardian
Navy SEALs see no barrier to women in combat ranks -- Washington Times
The U.S. military is failing its canine veterans. Inside one Marine’s fight to save her dog. -- Yahoo News
The CIA Built a Special Helicopter to Sneak Into North Vietnam -- War is Boring
How the Military Can Keep its Edge: Don’t Offset — Hedge -- Ben FitzGerald and Scott Cheney-Peters, War On The Rocks
A United Army for the Arab World? -- Hussein Ibish, NYT
Photo of last RAF raid on Germany found -- Alert 5
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