US cites progress against Islamic State in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan — A U.S. military spokesman says Afghan and international forces have reduced the territory controlled by Islamic State militants in Afghanistan by two-thirds and killed around half the affiliate's fighters in the last two years.

U.S. Navy Cpt. Bill Salvin, a spokesman for the NATO mission to Afghanistan, said Thursday it has carried out 460 airstrikes against terrorists since the start of the year, with drone strikes alone killing more than 200 IS militants.

He said the militant group has an estimated 600 to 800 fighters in two eastern provinces.

The ISIS affiliate has repeatedly clashed with Afghan forces as well as the Taliban, a much larger and more powerful insurgent group that controls a number of districts across the country.

In Other News

Advocates urge Austin to act on active duty obesity ‘epidemic’

A new letter urges defense leaders to do more to prevent, identify and treat obesity in the ranks.

The Coast Guard’s only Medal of Honor recipient died rescuing Marines

When asked if he could go back and extract the overwhelmed Marines from Guadalcanal, the 22-year-old Munro reportedly gave a confident, “Hell, yeah!”

VA expands benefits options for vets with other-than-honorable status

Veterans Affairs officials are updating rules regarding benefits eligibility to include more individuals with other-than-honorable discharges.

Senators unsure about House plan to boost troop pay, housing stipends

House lawmakers are moving ahead with plans to increase junior enlisted pay and military housing stipends, but the idea could face opposition in the Senate

Navy authorizes combat awards and devices for Red Sea operations

The move is a nod to the near-daily battles that Navy destroyers have fought with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen since October.

Load More