This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/world/asia/american-soldier-killed-afghanistan.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
American Service Member Is Killed in Afghanistan American Special Forces Soldier Is Killed in Afghanistan
(about 11 hours later)
WASHINGTON — An American service member was killed in Afghanistan on Monday, according to military officials, bringing to 20 the number of troops who have died during combat operations this year. WASHINGTON — An American Special Forces soldier was killed in Afghanistan on Monday, according to military officials, bringing to 20 the number of troops who have died during combat operations this year.
The service member’s death is a grim reminder that more Americans have died fighting the Taliban and other insurgent groups in 2019 than in any other year since 2014, when the Pentagon euphemistically announced the “end of combat operations” in the country. Thirteen troops were killed in 2018, and 11 in 2017. The soldier’s death is a grim reminder that more Americans have died fighting the Taliban and other insurgent groups in 2019 than in any other year since 2014, when the Pentagon euphemistically announced the “end of combat operations” in the country. Thirteen troops were killed in 2018, and 11 in 2017.
In a news release, the American-led mission in Afghanistan provided little detail about the episode or the service member’s identity pending notification of next of kin. On Monday night, the Defense Department identified the soldier as Sgt. First Class Michael J. Goble, 33, of Washington Township, N.J., hours after his military identification was broadcast on social media by Taliban accounts. He was assigned to the First Battalion, Seventh Special Forces Group, and was killed by a roadside bomb, according to a military official.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the killing. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said the service member was killed in Kunduz Province when the insurgents targeted American and Afghan forces with explosives. His remains will most likely arrive at Dover Air Force Base on Christmas morning, the official said.
Social media accounts affiliated with the Taliban shared photos of what they claimed were the identity badge of a United States Army soldier, a sergeant, and photos of his bloody uniform. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the killing. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said the soldier was killed in Kunduz Province when the insurgents targeted American and Afghan forces with explosives.
One American soldier and an Afghan soldier were also wounded in the attack, said Abdullah Ghulami, commander of the Afghan Army’s 10th Commando Battalion in Kunduz. Social media accounts affiliated with the Taliban shared photographs of Sergeant Goble’s identification card as well as photographs of his bloody uniform.
One American soldier and an Afghan soldier were also wounded in the attack, said Abdullah Ghulami, the commander of the Afghan Army’s 10th Commando Battalion in Kunduz.
“The Taliban’s weapon depot was destroyed,” Mr. Ghulami added.“The Taliban’s weapon depot was destroyed,” Mr. Ghulami added.
The service member’s death comes at a politically tumultuous moment, as Gen. Austin S. Miller, the commander of the American and NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, navigates support for the Afghan military. He is also contending with a potential troop withdrawal and restarted peace negotiations between American diplomats and Taliban officials in Qatar. Sergeant Goble’s death comes at a politically tumultuous moment, as Gen. Austin S. Miller, the commander of the American and NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, navigates support for the Afghan military. General Miller is also contending with a potential troop withdrawal and restarted peace negotiations in Qatar between American diplomats and Taliban officials.
An initial agreement between the two sides was abandoned by President Trump in September after a car bomb in Kabul killed an American soldier, a NATO soldier and 10 others. The loss of more Americans at this point in the 18-year war could derail the process once more, military officials said. An initial agreement between the two sides was abandoned by President Trump in September after a car bomb in Kabul, the Afghan capital, killed an American soldier, a NATO soldier and 10 others. The loss of more Americans at this point in the 18-year war could again derail the process, military officials said.
In November, two soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed in Logar Province while providing air support for American troops below. It is unclear if enemy fire caused the crash, though initial statements from the American command seemed to indicate otherwise.In November, two soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed in Logar Province while providing air support for American troops below. It is unclear if enemy fire caused the crash, though initial statements from the American command seemed to indicate otherwise.
And this month, the Taliban launched a daring dawn attack on Bagram Air Base, the largest American base in Afghanistan. No Americans were killed, but the gunmen held out in a hospital just yards away from the base’s confines before airstrikes ended the nearly 12-hour standoff.And this month, the Taliban launched a daring dawn attack on Bagram Air Base, the largest American base in Afghanistan. No Americans were killed, but the gunmen held out in a hospital just yards away from the base’s confines before airstrikes ended the nearly 12-hour standoff.
There are 12,000 to 13,000 American troops in Afghanistan, though Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper has said that the number might drop to 8,600 absent any agreement with the Taliban. The White House had initially planned to start withdrawing troops as part of the nearly announced deal with the Taliban in September.There are 12,000 to 13,000 American troops in Afghanistan, though Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper has said that the number might drop to 8,600 absent any agreement with the Taliban. The White House had initially planned to start withdrawing troops as part of the nearly announced deal with the Taliban in September.
“We have a mission in Afghanistan,” Mr. Esper said during a news conference Friday at the Pentagon. “So, until we are confident that mission is complete, we will retain a presence to do that.” “We have a mission in Afghanistan,” Mr. Esper said during a news conference on Friday at the Pentagon. “So, until we are confident that mission is complete, we will retain a presence to do that.”
The United States’ strategy in Afghanistan has changed little in the last year, and is rarely mentioned by either the Pentagon or the American-led mission in the country. As it stands, General Miller has marshaled what resources he has at his disposal to aggressively attack the Taliban, along with the Islamic State offshoot in the country, backed by thousands of airstrikes and hundreds of Afghan and American Special Operations missions. The United States’ strategy in Afghanistan has changed little in the past year, and is rarely mentioned by either the Pentagon or the American-led mission in the country. As it stands, General Miller has marshaled what resources he has at his disposal to aggressively attack the Taliban, along with the Islamic State offshoot in the country, backed by thousands of airstrikes and hundreds of Afghan and American Special Operations missions.
But the conventional Afghan military is largely in a defensive posture, holding what territory it can and focusing on securing the major roads that connect Afghanistan’s larger cities to one another.But the conventional Afghan military is largely in a defensive posture, holding what territory it can and focusing on securing the major roads that connect Afghanistan’s larger cities to one another.
More than 50,000 Afghan security forces have been killed since 2014. And though Afghan casualties have waned in recent months, American military officials said, they are still deeply troubling if the Afghans are to keep fighting, especially should the Americans withdraw.More than 50,000 Afghan security forces have been killed since 2014. And though Afghan casualties have waned in recent months, American military officials said, they are still deeply troubling if the Afghans are to keep fighting, especially should the Americans withdraw.
Mujib Mashal contributed reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Najim Rahim from Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan.Mujib Mashal contributed reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan, and Najim Rahim from Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan.