Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 9, 2013.  The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  They died April 6 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit in Zabul, Afghanistan with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to[Read More…]

KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWPSF)–April 9, 2013 – Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan today. The cause of the incident is under investigation, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash. It is ISAF[Read More…]

KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWSPF)–April 9, 2013 – Afghan and coalition security forces confirmed today the death of Taliban leader, Naqibullah, and several other insurgents during three operations in Sar-e Pul district, Sar-e Pul province, and Shibirghan district, Jowzjan province, Saturday. Naqibullah had control over a cell of Taliban fighters that conducted multiple[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 8, 2013.  Last month, I asked the Department of Defense’s Office of General Counsel to review Article 60 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) after a commander dismissed an Air Force officer’s court-martial conviction for sexual assault, using the authority provided by Article 60.  That review,[Read More…]

KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWSPF)–April 8, 2013 – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a facilitator with ties to multiple terrorist organizations during an operation in Ishkamish district, Takhar province, today. The facilitator is believed to be an improvised explosive device expert who has done work for the Taliban and the Islamic[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 6, 2013. Our State Department family is grieving over the loss of one of our own, an exceptional young Foreign Service officer, killed today in an IED attack in Zabul province, along with service members, a Department of Defense civilian, and Afghan civilians. Four other State Department colleagues[Read More…]

KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWSPF)–April 6, 2013 – Three International Security Assistance Force service members and two coalition civilians died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today. It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities. Source: isaf.nato.int  

KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWSPF)–April 6, 2013 – An Afghan and coalition security force killed Darah-ye Pech district’s highest-ranking Taliban official, Haji Matin, and one other insurgent during an operation in Darah-ye Pech district, Kunar province, yesterday. Matin was involved in a number of significant insurgency operations and was personally responsible for moving[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 5, 2013.  The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  Capt. James Michael Steel, 29, of Tampa, Fla., died April 3 in the crash of an F-16 near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron,[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 5, 2013.  The following message from Secretary Hagel was read aloud at today’s AFRICOM Change of Command ceremony in Stuttgart, Germany:  “To General Ham:  You took command of AFRICOM at a critical time on the continent, and in the larger region.  As a result of your leadership, America[Read More…]