Phillip Walter Wellman

Sgt. Cory Castillo, a Cavalry Scout assigned to the 1-108th Cavalry Regiment of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, provides security during a key leader engagement in Kapisa province, Afghanistan, in February, 2019.<br>Jordan Trent/U.S.Army

2020 VISION

Reducing violence and troop numbers in Afghanistan a difficult task for US

The United States looks set on reducing violence while decreasing its footprint in Afghanistan in 2020, but doing so will be a challenge, and ending the war outright is unlikely, experts say.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin was killed when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 27, 2018. The House has approved a bill to designate a post office in Hookstown, Pa., after Elchin.<br>Courtesy photo

House approves bill to rename Pennsylvania post office after airman killed in Afghanistan

A post office in western Pennsylvania is on track to be renamed after Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin, who was killed in Afghanistan last year.

A loaded U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon flies over Afghanistan, Aug. 24, 2019. The U.S. dropped more munitions in September than any other month in the last 10 years.<br>Keifer Bowes/U.S. Air Force

US airstrikes in Afghanistan near record high after Trump vows to hit enemy hard

The increase in bombing followed the collapse of peace talks between the United States and the Taliban in early September and a vow by President Donald Trump “to hit our enemy harder” than ever before.

Asim Omar, leader of al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent, was killed by U.S. and Afghan forces in September. Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security said on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019. <br>Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security

Senior al-Qaida leader killed by US and Afghan forces, officials say

A top Al-Qaida commander was killed in a raid by Afghan forces last month, Afghan intelligence officials said Tuesday, in an operation backed by U.S. airstrikes that also killed tens of civilians.

Afghan officials: US airstrike targeting Taliban adds to civilian death toll

A U.S. airstrike in central Afghanistan on Saturday killed several civilians, local residents and officials said, marking the latest incident this month in which American forces have been accused of killing noncombatants in the country.

Murtaza, 18, voted for the first time in Afghanistan's presidential election on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. He said he said he hoped his vote could help make the country safer.<br>Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes

Afghan man, 18, who has known only war, casts first vote with hope for peace

On Saturday morning, as many Afghans in the capital stayed home, perhaps fearful of a Taliban attack or tired of seeing past votes do little to improve the lives of ordinary Afghans, Murtaza voted for the first time in his life.

Cars in Kabul drive past campaign billboards in Kabul for the two frontrunners in Afghanistan's presidential election, which is to be held on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019.<br>Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes

Amid threats of violence, Afghans prepare to vote in presidential election

Afghans are preparing to vote this weekend in their country’s fourth presidential election since U.S.-led forces ousted the Taliban in 2001, amid threats of violence from insurgent groups.

An Embassy Air CH-46 helicopter operates in Afghanistan. The airline established to support the U.S. embassies in Afghanistan and Iraq has begun charging such high fees that it is harming some embassy operations, according to a report released Sept. 24, 2019, by the State Department Inspector General.<br>U.S. Army

Report: Expensive airfares harm embassy operations in Afghanistan and Iraq

A 7-minute helicopter trip with Embassy Air in Afghanistan costs nearly $1,500, while a 1-hour plane journey in Iraq is priced at nearly $4,800, the report by the State Department Inspector General said.

Armed alleged Taliban watch a convoy pass through in Logar province during a cease-fire between the Taliban and the Afghan government in 2018. The United States must start preparing for the reintegration of Taliban fighters into Afghan society, or risk losing some of them to terrorist groups like the Islamic State, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said in a report Wednesday.

<br>J.P. Lawrence/Stars and Stripes

Taliban must be reintegrated into Afghan society with US help, watchdog says

Recent talks between American and Taliban officials aimed at ending the U.S.’s longest war highlighted the need to incorporate an estimated 150,000 insurgents into the military, government and other areas, to make enduring peace likely, said a U.S. watchdog.

US blamed as Afghan officials say over 70 killed or injured in airstrike

The U.S. military was under fire Thursday from Afghan officials who said an American drone strike in Nangarhar province had killed at least 30 people and wounded more than 40 others. The U.S. military said claims of civilian casualties were being investigated.

Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy W. Griffin was killed in Afghanistan on Sept. 16, 2019.<br>U.S. Army

Army identifies Green Beret killed by small-arms fire in Afghanistan

Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy W. Griffin, 40, of Greenbrier, Tenn., died in action Monday in Wardak province.

Two coalition airstrikes eliminated ISIS fighters and facilities in the Nangarhar and Jowzjan provinces of Afghanistan, Feb. 6, 2018. The U.S. is expected to intensify operations in Afghanistan following the collapse of peace talks with the Taliban.<br>Jacob Krone/U.S. Army

Coalition airstrikes soared even as US, Taliban talked peace

As U.S. and Taliban officials talked peace, the U.S. military was accelerating airstrikes in Afghanistan, with the biggest monthly tally of the year carried out in August as the negotiations were in their final stage, a new report shows.

President Donald Trump<br>Stars and Stripes

Taliban: More Americans will die if Trump cancels peace talks

The group replied to a series of tweets by President Donald Trump on Saturday that said a secret meeting with “major leaders” of the Taliban at Camp David had been canceled because of an attack by the insurgents that killed an American soldier.

Ahmad Massoud, son of slain anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, speaks to a crowd in Panjshir, Afghanistan, on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, when he launched a political movement to counter the Taliban.<br>Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes

Son of slain Afghan guerrilla leader launches anti-Taliban movement amid civil war fears

The son of Afghanistan’s most famous anti-Taliban commander launched a movement against the insurgents Thursday, amid Afghan fears that a U.S. troop withdrawal could spark civil war.

Afghan security forces arrive during a fight against Taliban fighters in Kunduz province north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019.
<br>Bashir Khan Safi/AP

Taliban launch attack on another provincial capital

The fighting came as the latest round of direct talks between Taliban and U.S. negotiators wrapped up in Qatar.

Afghan security forces stand guard during a fight against Taliban fighters in Kunduz province north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019.
<br>Bashir Khan Safi/AP

Taliban launch major attack at Kunduz as talks continue

Afghan special forces were sent from Kabul to support local forces in the northern city, but no U.S. ground troops or airstrikes were called for, according to Afghan defense spokesman.

Afghan soldier Nematullah prays at a grave in his family's cemetery in Kunar province on Aug. 17, 2019. The family say they buried someone in the grave last year who they thought was him.<br>Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes

An Afghan soldier’s relatives held his funeral. Nine months later, he called them.

A family was summoned to a morgue in Kabul to claim the mangled remains of their son, a soldier killed in battle with the Taliban. They took the remains home to Kunar province for burial. Nine months later, he called.

A view of the mountains that are near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. A Taliban suicide car bomber attacked a convoy of foreign forces near the base Friday, Aug. 24, 2019.<br>James Danise/U.S. Army

US troops targeted in suicide attack near Bagram Airfield

A Taliban suicide car bomber attacked a convoy of foreign forces near the U.S.’s largest base in Afghanistan on Friday. No coalition troops were injured, officials said.

The Army has identified Master Sgt. Luis F. Deleon-Figueroa as one of two soldiers killed Wednesday, during combat operations in Faryab Province, Afghanistan. <br>U.S. Army

'One of the toughest kids I’ve ever met': Families mourn Green Berets killed in Afghanistan

The family of Master Sgt. Jose J. Gonzalez, 35, of La Puente, Calif., requested that the Army not release further information about him, U.S. Army Special Operations Command said. But the family of Master Sgt. Luis F. Deleon-Figueroa, 31, publicly grieved his death in numerous social media posts.

A U.S. Army trainer consults with an interpreter and a student in a training program for Afghan Tactical Air Coordinators during an exercise in 2016. According to a new Defense Department report, U.S. and coalition forces have failed to adequately develop the Afghans' airdrop capabilities.<br>Stars and Stripes

Afghans lack training for airdrops and accurate airstrikes, IG reports

Afghan forces trained by U.S. and coalition advisers aren’t capable of coordinating airdrops and may not receive adequate training to prevent them from killing civilians and friendly forces during airstrikes, a Defense Department report said.

A paratrooper from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, prepares to launch a Black Hornet personal drone Friday, Aug. 9, 2019, in Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of a foot patrol. The 3rd Brigade is the first Army brigade to use the personal drones.<br>Thomas Cieslak/U.S. Army

Army brigade uses mini drones for first time in Afghanistan

Army photos of the patrol Friday show troops deploying at least one drone, which resembles a miniature helicopter, during a counterterrorism mission.

A woman walks down a street in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Oct. 27, 2018. An attack in the city in July killed seven civilians and wounded more than 70 others, according to the United Nations. <br>Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes

Afghan civilian casualties spike significantly in July, UN says

The war in Afghanistan killed and wounded more civilians in July than in any other month since May 2017, the United Nations said Saturday.

Omaid Sharifi on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, reads letters collected as part of a campaign that aims to share Afghans' worries and recommendations with negotiators at peace talks.<br>Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes

Letter campaign aims to give voices to Afghans feeling sidelined by peace process

A letter-writing campaign in the Afghan capital aims to bring the voices of its residents to all the main players in the country’s ongoing war, from the U.S. to the Afghan government to the Taliban.

Afghan security forces man a checkpoint on the outskirts of Kandahar city on April 10, 2019. A U.S. watchdog report in July said Afghan forces were significantly understaffed.<br>Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes

Afghanistan security forces’ strength at lowest level since 2015, US watchdog says

The U.S. Congress has appropriated nearly $82.67 billion to support security in Afghanistan, or nearly two-thirds of all U.S. reconstruction funding for the country since fiscal year 2002.

Pfc. Brandon Jay Kreischer and Spc. Michael Isaiah Nance died Monday, July 29, 2019, in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, as a result of wounds sustained in a combat related incident, the Defense Department said. The incident is under investigation.

<br>US ARMY

Pentagon names two paratroopers killed during insider attack in Afghanistan

Pfc. Brandon Jay Kreischer, 20, of Stryker, Ohio, and Spc. Michael Isaiah Nance, 24, of Chicago, died in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan province, “as a result of wounds sustained in a combat related incident,” said a Defense Department statement issued Tuesday evening. The incident is under investigation.

Nabiullah, 28, and his family grieve the death of daughter Feroza, 8, who died in a bombing in Kabul on July 1, 2019. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.<br>J.P. Lawrence/Stars and Stripes

UN: Nearly 4,000 Afghan civilians killed or wounded by war during first half of 2019

The number of civilians killed or wounded in Afghanistan has dropped significantly during the first half of this year but remains “shocking and unacceptable,” the United Nations said Tuesday.