US Forces Afghanistan
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Jul- 2020 -14 July
US Pushes Taliban to Reduce Violence as Deal Enters ‘Next Phase’
The United States has said its landmark deal with the Taliban has entered the 'next phase' while urging the militants to reduce rising violence to allow Afghan peace talks to begin.
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May- 2020 -28 May
US Troop Pullout From Afghanistan Ahead of Schedule
The US military withdrawal from Afghanistan is considerably ahead of schedule, an official told AFP on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump reiterated calls for the Pentagon to bring troops home. The developments came as questions loomed over the next phase of Afghanistan’s long war following a historic, three-day ceasefire that led to a major drop in civilian casualties. The truce, which the Taliban called to mark the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr, ended Tuesday night, leaving Afghans anxious about whether it would be extended, or when the war might come raging back. Violence levels remained low even after the end of the ceasefire, but Afghan security forces conducted airstrikes in the south that killed 18 “militants,” police said. Under a deal the US signed with the Taliban in February, the Pentagon was to bring troop levels down from about 12,000 to 8,600 by mid-July, before withdrawing all forces by May 2021. But a senior US defense official said the troop number was already at approximately 8,500, as commanders accelerate the withdrawal over fears of the coronavirus. “The drawdown was accelerated due to COVID-19 precautions,” the official told AFP, noting that the departure of anyone with health concerns or over a certain age …
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Mar- 2020 -10 March
US begins Afghanistan troop withdrawal as ISIS claims rocket attack during presidential inauguration
The Defense Department said the withdrawal of a limited number of US troops from Afghanistan had begun, in accordance with a deal with the Taliban
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4 March
US conducts airstrike to defend Afghan forces against Taliban in Helmand
The US launched an airstrike against Taliban fighters to defend Afghan forces in Helmand as violence spirals after a string of deadly attacks by the insurgents
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Feb- 2020 -25 February
Taliban attacks down as Afghanistan ‘reduction in violence’ deal holds
A partial, week-long truce between the Taliban, American and Afghan forces held tenuously for a fourth day, despite several insurgent attacks and the US hitting ISIS targets
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21 February
US and Taliban agree to week-long ‘reduction in violence’ across Afghanistan
A week-long "reduction in violence" between the Taliban, the US, and Afghan security forces will commence shortly ahead of the possible signing of a deal
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Jan- 2020 -28 January
US personnel killed in Afghanistan E-11A crash recovered
US forces recovered the bodies of two personnel killed when their E-11A aircraft crashed in Ghazni province, eastern Afghanistan
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Dec- 2019 -23 December
US service member killed in action in Afghanistan
A US Green Beret, Sgt 1st Class Michael James Goble, was killed in action in Afghanistan
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11 December
Afghanistan: Suicide bomber targets US airbase in Bagram
A suicide car bombing at the largest US base in Afghanistan injured at least five people, just days after talks between the Trump administration and the Taliban resumed
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Nov- 2019 -20 November
2 US service members killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash
Two US military personnel were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, the NATO Resolute Support mission said
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