Carter makes surprise visit to Kabul

‘Serious security setbacks’ US special troops kicked out of Libya

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Dec 18, (RTRS): US Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived in Afghanistan on Friday, where officials said he planned to meet with US troops and military commanders and Afghan officials.

Carter’s visit comes as Afghanistan faces serious security setbacks, with the Taleban staging more attacks and inflicting more casualties on Afghan forces in the last year compared to previously.

In a report to the US Congress released this week, the Pentagon painted a grim picture of the security situation in Afghanistan, finding that from the beginning of the year to mid-November, there were 27 percent more high-profile attacks in the capital city of Kabul compared with the same period last year.

Afghan national defense and security forces also had 27 percent more casualties from the start of 2015 up to mid-November compared with the same period last year, the Pentagon report found.

Recent setbacks include the brief fall of the northern city of Kunduz to the Taleban, a months-long struggle in Helmand province and an insurgent raid on the airport in the southern city of Kandahar last week that killed 50 civilians, police and security personnel. WASHINGTON, Dec 18, (AFP): A group of US special operations troops who had traveled to Libya to “foster relationships” was kicked out of the conflict-torn country soon after they arrived, the Pentagon said Thursday.

A Facebook page belonging to the Libyan air force posted photographs of the men, who were dressed in rugged civilian clothing, including plaid shirts, and were carrying assault rifles. AUS defense official confirmed that the men in the photo were indeed US troops in Libya on Monday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the troops were in Libya “with the concurrence of Libyan officials.”