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Old 02-08-2020, 12:00 PM
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Exclamation Report says multiple U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan firefight

Report says multiple U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan firefight
By: Howard Altman & Shawn Snow - Military Times - 02-08-20 (51 min. ago)
Re: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/y...tan-firefight/

Photo link: https://www.armytimes.com/resizer/r_...VMHM3223QU.jpg
Mountainous terrain in southeastern Nangarhar. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jacob Krone)

Numerous U.S troops were killed Saturday during a firefight in Afghanistan, according to the New York Times.

U.S. officials told Military Times they could not immediately confirm that report about casualties. However, an official did say that the U.S. and Afghan forces conducting an operation in Nangarhar Province were engaged by direct fire on Saturday, according Col. Sonny Leggett, a spokesman for U.S. Forces–Afghanistan.

“We are assessing the situation and will provide further updates as they become available,” he said in an emailed statement Saturday.

Officials declined to offer specifics, including reports about U.S. troop deaths.

The New York Times reporter said on social media that the incident may have involved a so-called “green on blue” attack, meaning the attackers may have been friendly forces or extremists posing as friendly forces.

One official told the Agence France-Press that the attack happened in the Shirzad district military headquarters and that foreign forces had cordoned off the area. “Several helicopters landed in and departed from the HQ compound taking out casualties. We don’t know how many killed or wounded," the official told AFP.

For years Nangarhar Province has been a haven for the Islamic State group’s faction in Afghanistan. The Taliban also operates in the area.

President Donald Trump reiterated Tuesday in the annual State of the Union speech his desire to bring troops home from Afghanistan and end the wars in the Middle East.

Afghanistan’s elite special operations unit to get CH-47 helicopters

“In Afghanistan, the determination and valor of our warfighters has allowed us to make tremendous progress, and peace talks are underway,” he said. “I am not looking to kill hundreds of thousands of people in Afghanistan, many of them innocent. It is also not our function to serve other nations as a law enforcement agency.”

There are roughly 13,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has said the Pentagon may reduce the American footprint in the country to 8,600 with or without a deal with the Taliban.

Peace talks with the Taliban are ongoing, but definitions over reduced violence and a cease-fire continue to bog down the talks. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he wants “demonstrable evidence” that the Taliban can carry through on their promise to reduce violence in the country, according to the Associated Press.

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Personal note: As much as we want out of Afghanistan - we've lost many during this conflict and to pull out now - would not be the answer - nor would our troops want to go after being attacked. You can't blame them - it's been a long struggle in this area and to pull out after so long would leave a bad taste in those who've given so much to make things right. If needed I'd flood the area with our troops and just knock the crap out of them. But that's Trump's call let's see how he deals with it.

Boats
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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