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26/03/2004
US sends more Marines into Afghanistan
The US military has announced that it is to bulk up its presence in Afghanistan by sending thousands of Marines into the country.
Some 2,200 Marines and sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit will shortly be deployed to Afghanistan, the US Joint Staff of Staff said today.
The purpose of the deployment is to aid other coalition forces and deny sanctuary to terrorists and to capture or kill al-Qaeda or Taliban members, the US military said.
The move follows on from large scale sweeps by Pakistani and US forces against suspected Al Qaeda members in the moutainous tribal areas straddling the Afghan/Pakistan border.
About 13,000 members of the US armed forces are in Afghanistan at the moment. The Marines will join up with the 2,000 Marines already stationed in the country.
Officials would not say how long the deployment will last, but the typical duration for such a deployment is six months.
US forces are currently involved in searches for weapons and intelligence on the movements of al-Qaeda suspects. This week, weapons caches were found near Bagram and Shkin, and an Afghan citizen turned in a cache with more than 400 recoilless rifle rounds and 100 mortar rounds near Gardez, a spokesperson from the US Central Command stated.
Elsewhere, the US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has revealed that the US would fund construction of 152 new schools and the refurbishment of 255 more within the next six months. He made the announcement at a ceremony opening the new school year, the third since the collapse of the Taliban regime.
An estimated 5.5 million students are expected to return to the classroom this year, 1.5 million more than last year. And the percentage of girls attending school grew to 36% last year and that number is expected to further increase this year.
Since 2002 the United States has constructed and rehabilitated over 200 schools, reached 16,000 students through accelerated learning programs, trained 2,100 teachers, and distributed 10.3 million textbooks.
(gmcg)
Some 2,200 Marines and sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit will shortly be deployed to Afghanistan, the US Joint Staff of Staff said today.
The purpose of the deployment is to aid other coalition forces and deny sanctuary to terrorists and to capture or kill al-Qaeda or Taliban members, the US military said.
The move follows on from large scale sweeps by Pakistani and US forces against suspected Al Qaeda members in the moutainous tribal areas straddling the Afghan/Pakistan border.
About 13,000 members of the US armed forces are in Afghanistan at the moment. The Marines will join up with the 2,000 Marines already stationed in the country.
Officials would not say how long the deployment will last, but the typical duration for such a deployment is six months.
US forces are currently involved in searches for weapons and intelligence on the movements of al-Qaeda suspects. This week, weapons caches were found near Bagram and Shkin, and an Afghan citizen turned in a cache with more than 400 recoilless rifle rounds and 100 mortar rounds near Gardez, a spokesperson from the US Central Command stated.
Elsewhere, the US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has revealed that the US would fund construction of 152 new schools and the refurbishment of 255 more within the next six months. He made the announcement at a ceremony opening the new school year, the third since the collapse of the Taliban regime.
An estimated 5.5 million students are expected to return to the classroom this year, 1.5 million more than last year. And the percentage of girls attending school grew to 36% last year and that number is expected to further increase this year.
Since 2002 the United States has constructed and rehabilitated over 200 schools, reached 16,000 students through accelerated learning programs, trained 2,100 teachers, and distributed 10.3 million textbooks.
(gmcg)
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31 March 2008
Blast Kills Marines In Afghanistan
The Royal Marine Corps has suffered two more casualties. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed today that the British naval personnel were killed in an explosion in Afghanistan. The members of 40 Commando Royal Marines, were on a routine patrol on Sunday when the pair were hit by what is thought to be a roadside bomb.
Blast Kills Marines In Afghanistan
The Royal Marine Corps has suffered two more casualties. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed today that the British naval personnel were killed in an explosion in Afghanistan. The members of 40 Commando Royal Marines, were on a routine patrol on Sunday when the pair were hit by what is thought to be a roadside bomb.
13 February 2006
Royal Marines ready for Afghanistan
Royal Marines Commandos are making final preparations at their barracks in Devon before leaving for Afghanistan tomorrow.
Royal Marines ready for Afghanistan
Royal Marines Commandos are making final preparations at their barracks in Devon before leaving for Afghanistan tomorrow.
01 September 2011
Name of Soldier Killed In Afghanistan Released
The Ministry of Defence has released the name of the latest British soldier to be killed during the Afghanistan conflict. Sergeant Barry John Weston, from Kilo Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, became the 379th British solder to be killed during an operation in the Helmand province on Tuesday August 30.
Name of Soldier Killed In Afghanistan Released
The Ministry of Defence has released the name of the latest British soldier to be killed during the Afghanistan conflict. Sergeant Barry John Weston, from Kilo Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, became the 379th British solder to be killed during an operation in the Helmand province on Tuesday August 30.
06 June 2011
Soldier Killed In Bomb Blast
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the death of a British soldier in Afghanistan. The unnamed soldier was killed by a bomb while on a patrol in the Haji Kareen area of the Nahr-e Saraj district on Sunday. The soldier, was from 1st Battalion The Rifles. His family have been told.
Soldier Killed In Bomb Blast
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the death of a British soldier in Afghanistan. The unnamed soldier was killed by a bomb while on a patrol in the Haji Kareen area of the Nahr-e Saraj district on Sunday. The soldier, was from 1st Battalion The Rifles. His family have been told.
15 May 2009
British Soldier Killed In Helmand Explosion
A British soldier has died in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The serviceman, from the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group, was killed while travelling in a Viking vehicle near Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province.
British Soldier Killed In Helmand Explosion
A British soldier has died in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The serviceman, from the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group, was killed while travelling in a Viking vehicle near Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province.
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