Afghan Forces Now Lead Night Raids in Afghanistan

The head of USSOCOM told U.S. senators that Afghan forces are now leading all U.S. special operations night raids.  The conduct of night raids has been a constant complaint of President Karzai and a topic of discussion during the negotiations between Karzai and the U.S. on the relationship of the two nations after 2014.  Admiral McRaven stated that Afghan forces are always the first through the door during a night raid.  McRaven said that the U.S. special operations forces in Afghanistan are working in two key areas. The first is the use of forces to conduct lethal and direct approach, often through night raids. The second is to build Afghan security, development, and governance through Village Stability Operations or VSO and working with programs such as the Afghan Local Police or ALP.   Read more on this topic in "Socom Commander Discusses Progress in Afghanistan", American Forces Press Service,
March 6, 2012.