ISIS in Afghanistan Update

U.S. and Afghan special operations forces have been taking the fight to the Islamic State in Khorasan (IS-K) over the past year or so. The strength of IS-K has been reduced from a high of 3,000 (estimates vary) to less than 1,000 (based on April/May estimates). This spring saw a concerted effort on the part of the Afghans and the U.S. to reduce IS-K enclaves in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan. The U.S. has suffered several deaths (SOF Soldiers) in recent months in this region of Afghanistan. The offensive against IS-K received a lot of media attention when the U.S.dropped the Mother of All Bombs or MOAB on Islamic State positions. Although the IS-K's position in Nangarhar province is being diminished there are concerns that the insurgent organization will move on to other more remote areas of Afghanistan - such as Nuristan province. (See a Gandara report on June 4, 2017 entitled "Worries Over New IS Sanctuary in Eastern Afghan Province").

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