Are We Headed Toward an Ignoble End in Afghanistan?
The question is less about when to leave and more about how to do so without further emboldening the Taliban.
Helmand
U.S. Air Force communications aircraft crashes in Taliban controlled district
Footage of the crash scene of the USAF E-11A in Deh Yak district in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/B6t1DMBot9 — Bill Roggio (@billroggio) January 27, 2020 A U.S. Air Force communications...
Op-eds
U.S. military buries press release that would announce killing of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent’s emir
The U.S. Department of Defense suppressed a press release that would have announced the death of Asim Umar, the emir of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, because it “would complicate future negotiations...
Op-eds
Afghan officials identify AQIS members killed in controversial Musa Qala raid
Afghan officials have publicly identified several of the Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) members who were killed during an operation in Helmand province earlier this week. The raid quickly...
Op-eds
Joint raid targeted al Qaeda members in Taliban stronghold, U.S. and Afghan officials say
Taliban sites posted this photo from the aftermath of a joint U.S.-Afghan raid in Musa Qala. Late yesterday, U.S. and Afghan forces targeted al Qaeda members in Musa Qala, a Taliban-controlled district...
Op-eds
Taliban promotes its ‘Preparation for Jihad’
1) From Taliban’s new ‘Preparation for Jihad’ video: Taliban fighters going through obstacle course, reminiscent if al Qaeda training camp videos. Note the Taliban fighters are wearing...
Op-eds
Afghan government unable to administer 64 districts
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Op-eds
Taliban launches string of attacks throughout Afghanistan
The Taliban has launched several major attacks throughout Afghanistan over the past two days, including an attack on the Ministry of Defense in the capital of Kabul, and another on election workers in...
Op-eds
Al Qaeda growing stronger under Taliban’s umbrella, UN finds
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Op-eds
3 U.S. service members killed in Taliban bombing
Op-eds
Al Qaeda-linked group in Syria praises Taliban, Shabaab operations
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Op-eds
Taliban suicide team attacks Afghan base in Helmand
A Taliban suicide assault team penetrated security at Camp Shorabak in Helmand province and battled Afghan forces for several hours today. While Afghan and Coalition officials both claim the assault w...
Op-eds
US and partner nations seek to disrupt Iran-Taliban nexus
Op-eds
Afghan military abandon district in Helmand
The Afghan military withdrew its remaining combat forces from the district of Musa Qala in Helmand province today after battling the Taliban there for nearly a year. The district is now firmly un...
Op-eds
How Many Fighters Does the Islamic State Really Have?
Estimates of the number of fighters in the ranks of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are extraordinarily wide-ranging. On the low end of things, CNN’s Barbara Starr recently...
Op-eds
Ex-Gitmo Detainee Leads Contingent of Islamic State Fighters in Afghanistan
A former Guantanamo detainee, Mullah Raouf Khadim, is reportedly leading a contingent of Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand. Khad...
Op-eds
Former Taliban Leader Mullah Abdul Rauf now Recruiting for ISIS in Afghanistan?
... Mullah Abdul Rauf is a former Taliban commander from Helmand province, who recently declared his allegiance to ISIS and is now reportedly running a recruitment cell for the radical gro...
Op-eds
Meet the Shadowy Figure Recruiting for the Islamic State in Afghanistan
... Several reports in the last few days suggest that the Islamic State is now recruiting in southern Afghanistan, the spiritual heart of the Taliban and the site of fierce combat between...
Op-eds
Taliban Assassinate Member of Afghan High Peace Council
The Taliban assassinated a member of the Afghan High Peace Council in a complex ambush in Helmand province today. The Taliban have now assassinated three senior members of the peace council since...
Op-eds
Taliban Promise Suicide Assaults, ‘Insider Attacks’ in This Year’s Spring Offensive
The Afghan Taliban announced that this year's spring offensive would begin on April 28 and would focus on suicide assaults on Coalition installations, as well as "insider attacks" against We...