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February 12, 2016

Pentagon: U.S. Carries Out 20 Strikes on ISIL in Afghanistan in 3 Weeks
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Pentagon officials say they have stepped up airstrikes against ISIL in
Afghanistan, launching about 20 airstrikes in the eastern region of
Afghanistan over the last three weeks. This comes after President Obama
expanded the Pentagon's authority to conduct airstrikes against ISIL in
Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is sending 500 U.S. soldiers to
Helmand province in southern Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. It's the
largest single deployment to Helmand province since President Obama
declared an end to the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan in 2014. The
deployment does not increase the overall troop level in Afghanistan,
which remains at just under 10,000 soldiers.