Showing posts with label Latvia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Latvia. Show all posts

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Afghan Security News Update

MD 530 Helicopter of the Afghan Air Force (AAF)

Kunduz - Battle Prompts Increase in U.S. Support. The recent Taliban offenses (and success) in Kunduz, Farah, Uruzgan, and Helmand provinces has generated an aggressive response by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. In line with the increased authorities granted the Operation Sentinel Freedom mission the U.S. has increased air combat sorties and increasingly deployed its U.S. Army Special Forces to assist (and combat) the resurgent Taliban forces. The United States (and its NATO and Partner nation allies) is facing a stark choice: risk losing more district centers and possibly a provincial capital or commit to more U.S. SOF into the fight supported by U.S. aircraft providing close air support. Read more on this topic in "A New U.S. Front in Afghanistan?"The Wall Street Journal, November 2016.

Video of Afghan Timeline. An eight minute video traces the 15-year history of the Afghan conflict starting from October 7, 2001 when the U.S. and British militaries began a bombing campaign against Taliban and al Qaeda targets in Afghanistan.  A lot of footage of combat action. Watch The Afghanistan War: A Timeline, Task & Purpose, October 10, 2016.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=msUY9p_ZPVE

Sling Load Operations. This news article describes the importance of conducting sling load operations in Afghanistan. (Fort Hood Sentinel, Nov 17, 2016).

ISIS Survives in Afghanistan. Despite attacks from the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), the Taliban, and U.S. drones the Islamic State in Afghanistan remains a force to be reckoned with. Although its presence is diminished it still maintains a resilient stronghold in eastern Afghanistan. Read more in "ISIS in Afghanistan: Their peak is over, but they are not finished"The Guardian, November 18, 2016.

Pakistan Accused of Supporting the Taliban. In late-breaking news we hear that Pakistan has been supporting the Taliban. Really? Didn't know. The former Afghan intelligence chief has accused Pakistan of providing military support to the Taliban. Read more in a news report by Voice of America, November 11, 2016.

Kabul Bombing Wednesday, November 16th. A suicide bomber driving a vehicle blew up near an Afghan defense vehicle in Kabul killing four and injuring at least 11 others. (Gandhara Blog / RFE, Nov 16, 2016).

Prisoners Rescued. Afghan Special Forces from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) rescued civilians who were being kept in a Taliban prison in Greshk district of Helmand province. (Khaama Press, November 16, 2016).

Germany Staying the Course. The German cabinet has approved the plan to keep almost one thousand soldiers in Afghanistan until the end of 2017. (Khaama Press, Nov 17, 2016).

U.S. Helicopter Shot Down? Nope, Probably Not. Both the Islamic State and the Taliban have claimed to have taken down a helicopter in the central Afghan province of Ghor on November 15th. The Resolute Support HQs says it didn't happen. Read more in "Taliban, Islamic State both claim to have shot down helicopter in central Afghanistan", The Long War Journal, November 14, 2016.

Latvian's Assisted in Defense of German Consulate in MeS. Three combat air controllers from Latvia assisted in the defending of the German compound in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan during an attack a few weeks ago. (Public Broadcasting of Latvia, Nov 15, 2016).