US military withdrawal of a number of its troops from Pakistan

The Pentagon said it had received a request from the Pakistani government to reduce its presence in the country. The request came after a raid by US special forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in early May. The US has more than 200 troops in Pakistan helping to train the army. But there are said to be intelligence and special forces operating there. A spokesman at the Pentagon said that within the last two weeks Pakistan had asked the American military to reduce its footprint, and the Americans were doing so, pulling out some troops. The numbers are quite small. It is not clear if any of the American intelligence and special operations forces that are said to be in Pakistan clandestinely are also being pulled out.

Source:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13555557?print=true

The Frontlines of Iraq

Roadside bombs, ethnic violence and use of IEDs continued to plague Iraqi stability. Several indirect fire attacks were conducted against U.S. bases resulting in casualties.  Since our last report 5 more American soldiers have been killed. The war in Iraq has claimed 29 American lives in 2011 thus far and a total of 4,459 for the entirety of the war. Source: www.icasualties.org

The Frontlines of Afghanistan

The Taliban attacked police checkpoints and ISAF forces throughout the country. Bombs were used against Afghan banks in an apparent bank heist. IEDs were also used against American forces in the Helmland province which resulted in the death of American service members. Since our last report 13 more American soldiers have been killed. The war in Afghanistan has claimed 164 American lives in 2011 thus far and a total of 1,610 for the entirety of the war. Source: www.icasualties.org

To read the full update please visit The Frontlines Weekly Update Brief (May 30-June 5, 2011) or check out The Frontlines. Thank you.

Very respectfully,

The Warrant

References

The Economist. (2011). May 28-June 4th Issue.

iCasualties. (2011). Coalition Casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. Retrieved from www.icasualties.org.