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Afghanistan

Operation Enduring Freedom: A look back in photos

With the curtain coming down on combat operations, Stars and Stripes is looking back at the U.S. troops who have fought in the war, what they encountered, and how they coped. We present three photo galleries featuring the work of our photographers and reporters who have covered the war in Afghanistan.




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US forces pack up
This picture shows a frame grab from a video released by the Taliban containing footage of a man believed to be Bowe Bergdahl, left. Captured in 2009, Bergdahl was released by the Taliban in May 2014.<br>AP

Ex-prisoners exchanged for Bowe Bergdahl were key players in peace deal with Taliban, officials say

The so-called Taliban Five, a group of high-level militant inmates traded for American soldier Bowe Bergdahl during the Obama administration, worked behind the scenes to build support for the agreement, current and former U.S. and Taliban officials say.




Reports from SIGAR
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko attends a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 25, 2017.<br>Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes

Are we winning the Afghan War? That’s classified, Sopko says

John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction, told Congress on Tuesday that measuring progress on America’s longest war is virtually impossible with even the most basic facts trapped behind an ever-expanding umbrella of secrecy.

Congress created the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) to provide independent and objective oversight of Afghanistan reconstruction projects and activities.




Election coverage
Supporters of Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah scramble to grab campaign posters and signs before a rally in Panjshir province. The candidate found a frenzied welcome in the fabled Panjshir Valley, where he has a strong base of support.<br> Josh Smith/Stars and Stripes

VIDEO

Politics in Panjshir: Life on the Afghan campaign trail

As Afghanistan's presidential election entered its final week, fears of violence and corruption concerns didn't stop Afghans from reveling in what would be the country's first peaceful, democratic transfer of power.




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More recent reports

Hundreds of newly trained al-Shabab fighters perform military exercises in the Lafofe area south of Mogadishu, in Somalia on Feb. 17, 2011.<br>Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP
Hundreds of newly trained al-Shabab fighters perform military exercises in the Lafofe area south of Mogadishu, in Somalia on Feb. 17, 2011.<br>Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP

Islamic militants see global chaos from virus as an opportunity

Both the Islamic State group and al-Qaida see the coronavirus as a threat, but some of their fighters also see the upheaval from the pandemic as an opportunity to win over more supporters and strike harder than before.

Sgt. 1st Class John David Randolph Hilty, from Bowie, Md., died March 20, 2020, in Irbil, the Pentagon said in a statement. <br>Facebook
Sgt. 1st Class John David Randolph Hilty, from Bowie, Md., died March 20, 2020, in Irbil, the Pentagon said in a statement. <br>Facebook

Fort Hood-based soldier’s death is seventh for coalition in Iraq this year

Sgt. 1st Class John David Randolph Hilty was due to retire in June and looking forward to returning to civilian life, according to friends.

Jailed Taliban are seen inside the Pul-e-Charkhi jail in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Dec. 14, 2019. A three-member Taliban technical team arrived Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in the Afghan capital to oversee the release of their prisoners as part of a peace deal signed by the Taliban and the U.S.<br>AP
Jailed Taliban are seen inside the Pul-e-Charkhi jail in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Dec. 14, 2019. A three-member Taliban technical team arrived Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in the Afghan capital to oversee the release of their prisoners as part of a peace deal signed by the Taliban and the U.S.<br>AP

Taliban team arrives in Kabul to monitor prisoner release

A three-member Taliban technical team arrived Tuesday in the Afghan capital to monitor the release of their prisoners as part of a peace deal signed by the Taliban and the U.S., a spokesman for the insurgent group said.

This picture shows a frame grab from a video released by the Taliban containing footage of a man believed to be Bowe Bergdahl, left. Captured in 2009, Bergdahl was released by the Taliban in May 2014.<br>AP
This picture shows a frame grab from a video released by the Taliban containing footage of a man believed to be Bowe Bergdahl, left. Captured in 2009, Bergdahl was released by the Taliban in May 2014.<br>AP

Ex-prisoners exchanged for Bowe Bergdahl were key players in peace deal with Taliban, officials say

The so-called Taliban Five, a group of high-level militant inmates traded for American soldier Bowe Bergdahl during the Obama administration, worked behind the scenes to build support for the agreement, current and former U.S. and Taliban officials say.

A billboard in Ghazni promotes coalition action in Afghanistan in 2010. The Leonie Group, which produced television, radio and billboard ads in Afghanistan, falsely billed the government for ads that were never disseminated, the company's former president alleges in a whistleblower lawsuit.<br>Justin Howe/U.S. Army
A billboard in Ghazni promotes coalition action in Afghanistan in 2010. The Leonie Group, which produced television, radio and billboard ads in Afghanistan, falsely billed the government for ads that were never disseminated, the company's former president alleges in a whistleblower lawsuit.<br>Justin Howe/U.S. Army

Company charged millions for pro-America ads that never aired in Afghanistan, lawsuit alleges

A contractor billed the Pentagon millions of dollars for ads that never aired in Afghanistan,the company's former president says in a whistleblower lawsuit.

A damaged vehicle is removed from the site of a bomb explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, March 30, 2020. A sticky bomb attached to the vehicle detonated, according to Firdaus Faramraz, spokesman for the Kabul police chief. <br>Rahmat Gul/AP
A damaged vehicle is removed from the site of a bomb explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, March 30, 2020. A sticky bomb attached to the vehicle detonated, according to Firdaus Faramraz, spokesman for the Kabul police chief. <br>Rahmat Gul/AP

Afghan officials say Taliban attacks kill 11 troops, police

The insurgents targeted a military checkpoint in a multi-pronged attack in the district of Argandab in southern Zabul province on Sunday night.

Javier Jaguar Gutierrez plays with his daughter Helen during an outing in Crestview, Fla., in 2017.<br>Javier Gutierrez
Javier Jaguar Gutierrez plays with his daughter Helen during an outing in Crestview, Fla., in 2017.<br>Javier Gutierrez

Gold Star families hold out hope for peace in Afghanistan

Three Gold Star families talk about the prospect of the U.S.’s longest war coming to an end.

A soldier assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division waits to board an aircraft bound for the Middle East, from Fort Bragg, N.C. on January 5, 2020. Some 2,500 soldiers rapidly deployed days after Christmas and are now separated from their families indefinitely as the military works to fight the spread of the coronavirus.<br>Hubert Delany III/U.S. Army
A soldier assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division waits to board an aircraft bound for the Middle East, from Fort Bragg, N.C. on January 5, 2020. Some 2,500 soldiers rapidly deployed days after Christmas and are now separated from their families indefinitely as the military works to fight the spread of the coronavirus.<br>Hubert Delany III/U.S. Army

‘In limbo’ in Kuwait: Rapidly deployed paratroopers don’t know when they’re coming home

Some 2,500 Army paratroopers who were rushed to the Middle East just days after Christmas remain separated from their friends and families indefinitely as the rapidly spreading coronavirus prevents them from returning home.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, stands with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, March 23, 2020.<br>Afghan Presidential Palace /AP
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, stands with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, March 23, 2020.<br>Afghan Presidential Palace /AP

Political turmoil in Kabul dogs negotiations with Taliban

After months of deliberation, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday announced his 21-member team to negotiate peace with the Taliban, only to have his political opponent reject it as not inclusive enough.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, and Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib arrive at the presidential palace in Kabul on Monday, March 23, 2020, when Pompeo paid a lightning visit to Afghanistan to try to resolve a political row that the U.S. says is stalling the peace process.<br>
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, and Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib arrive at the presidential palace in Kabul on Monday, March 23, 2020, when Pompeo paid a lightning visit to Afghanistan to try to resolve a political row that the U.S. says is stalling the peace process.<br>

Afghan government and Taliban say prisoner release to start within days

Thousands of prisoners in Afghanistan could start being released by early next week, fulfilling a key condition of the nearly month-old U.S.-Taliban deal to bring peace to the country, government and Taliban officials said.

A man carries his shopping as he walks by a "don't panic" sign hanging at the entrance of a food market that is closed in order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on March 23, 2020. <br>Oded Balilty/AP
A man carries his shopping as he walks by a "don't panic" sign hanging at the entrance of a food market that is closed in order to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on March 23, 2020. <br>Oded Balilty/AP

Aid group says Mideast lockdowns hinder humanitarian efforts

An international aid group said Wednesday that closures aimed at containing the coronavirus pandemic are preventing it from reaching 300,000 people in conflict zones across the Middle East, as the virus arrived in war-torn Libya and four more cases were detected in Syria.

Family members cry after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, March 25, 2020. A gunman stormed a religious gathering of Afghanistan's minority Sikhs in their place of worship in the heart of the Afghan capital's old city on Wednesday.<br>Rahmat Gul/AP
Family members cry after an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, March 25, 2020. A gunman stormed a religious gathering of Afghanistan's minority Sikhs in their place of worship in the heart of the Afghan capital's old city on Wednesday.<br>Rahmat Gul/AP

US condemns ‘fanatics and criminals’ as dozens killed in Sikh temple attack in Kabul

At least 25 people were killed when a lone gunman attacked a Sikh temple in Kabul’s old town Wednesday, starting an hourslong firefight with Afghan security forces, local officials said.

Resolute Support logo.<br>
Resolute Support logo.<br>

Four coronavirus cases confirmed at coalition bases in Afghanistan

Four service members in Afghanistan have tested positive for the coronavirus while being held in a screening facility after arriving in the country, military officials said Tuesday.

U.S. Marines overlook a Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility during an exercise at an Emirati military base in al-Hamra, United Arab Emirates, Monday, March 23, 2020. <br>Jon Gambrell/AP
U.S. Marines overlook a Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility during an exercise at an Emirati military base in al-Hamra, United Arab Emirates, Monday, March 23, 2020. <br>Jon Gambrell/AP

US, UAE troops hold major exercise amid virus and Iran tensions

The biennial exercise, called Native Fury, shows the close ties between American forces and the UAE.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, stands with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, March 23, 2020. Pompeo was in Kabul on an urgent visit Monday to try to move forward a U.S. peace deal signed last month with the Taliban, a trip that comes despite the coronavirus pandemic, at a time when world leaders and statesmen are curtailing official travel.<br>Afghan Presidential Palace/AP
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, stands with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, March 23, 2020. Pompeo was in Kabul on an urgent visit Monday to try to move forward a U.S. peace deal signed last month with the Taliban, a trip that comes despite the coronavirus pandemic, at a time when world leaders and statesmen are curtailing official travel.<br>Afghan Presidential Palace/AP

US slashes aid to Afghanistan after Pompeo visit to Kabul

The Trump administration is slashing $1 billion in assistance to Afghanistan and threatening further reductions in all forms of cooperation after the country's rival leaders failed to agree on forming a new government.


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