The Local Germany

Elite German soldier killed in Afghanistan

Sun, 05 May 2013 13:18:00 +0200

A German soldier from the KSK elite military unit was killed and another wounded in an attack by insurgents in northern Afghanistan on Saturday. It's the first time a member of the special forces anti-terror KSK unit has been killed.

Afghan intel reportedly failed to warn of attack

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:53:00 +0200

The German army can no longer trust the Afghan intelligence services, fearing that they are deliberately withholding information about imminent attacks, according to Defence Ministry documents leaked this week.

Petraeus to meet general hurt in Afghan attack

Sun, 29 May 2011 13:52:00 +0200

Gen. David Petraeus, US commander of the international forces in Afghanistan (ISAF), is to visit German Gen. Markus Kneip after he narrowly survived a deadly attack on Saturday.

Bundeswehr general optimistic as Afghan regions tipped for handover

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0100

With seven regions set to be turned over to Afghan troops this summer, Bundeswehr Gen. Bruno Kasdorf said Tuesday he was cautiously optimistic about the situation in the strife-torn country.

Three soldiers killed, several others injured

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:55:00 +0100

Three German soldiers were killed and several others injured in northern Afghanistan on Friday at an outpost visited just one day prior by Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.

Soldiers' Afghanistan letters allegedly opened

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:05:00 +0100

German soldiers are complaining that their letters from Afghanistan have been opened and censored in recent months, with a military advocate demanding an explanation from Defence Minster Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, a media report said Wednesday.

Cabinet extends Afghanistan mission

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 09:28:00 +0100

The German cabinet voted in favour of extending the country’s unpopular military mission in Afghanistan by one year on Wednesday, with the new plan stipulating that troop withdrawal must begin at the end of 2011.

Surging Afghan dislike of Bundeswehr troops

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:20:00 +0100

Germany and its soldiers are disliked by Afghans more than ever before, a new poll revealed Monday, with almost 40 percent of respondents living near Bundeswehr bases favouring attacks on its troops.

Petraeus lauds Bundeswehr efforts

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 10:11:00 +0100

US General and head of international operations in Afghanistan David Petraeus praised the Bundeswehr on Thursday for stepping up their efforts in the north of the country, calling their operations “very impressive.”

Troops in Afghanistan get heavy weaponry

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:55:00 +0200

German troops in Afghanistan are to deploy heavy weaponry for the first time as fighting against the Taliban intensifies, the daily Handelsblatt reported on Thursday.

Berlin girds for conflict in Afghanistan

Sat, 09 May 2009 15:35:00 +0200

As German NATO troops take a more aggressive stance in Afghanistan, the Taliban is reportedly planning to step up its military campaign to exploit political sensitivities in the run-up to Germany's general election.

Bad weather spurs Merkel home from Afghanistan early

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:39:00 +0200

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was forced to cut short a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Tuesday due to bad weather, the government said.

Ex defence ministers: Germany is at war

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:36:00 +0200

A day after the remains of two German soldiers were repatriated from Afghanistan, three former defence ministers said Germany was involved in a war there - not simply a peacekeeping mission.

Bundeswehr AWACs in Afghanistan could direct combat sorties

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:05:00 +0200

Plans to send AWAC reconnaissance aircraft to coordinate NATO air missions in Afghanistan could run into more resistance in the German parliament than previously thought.

Suicide bomber attacks German troops in Afghanistan

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:51:00 +0200

German Bundeswehr troops were attacked on Tuesday morning in Afghanistan near Kunduz, but none were injured in the suicide attack, the Defence Ministry reported.

Insurgents attack Bundeswehr troops in Afghanistan

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:07:00 +0200

German troops in northern Afghanistan suffered another attack by insurgents, the Bundeswehr confirmed on Wednesday to public radio broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.

German Afghanistan base hit by rocket fire

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:48:00 +0200

A German base in Afghanistan came under rocket attack on Monday, Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung confirmed.

Afghan minister calls for anti-rebel attacks in Pakistan

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:26:00 +0200

Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta said Monday the battle against insurgents in his country must be taken to its “breeding ground” in neighbouring Pakistan.

German military paid off Afghan victims' families

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:47:00 +0200

The German army has paid compensation to relatives of a woman and two children shot dead last week at a checkpoint manned by its soldiers in northern Afghanistan, daily newspaper Die Welt reported on Wednesday.

German soldier killed in Afghanistan

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:26:00 +0200

One soldier was killed and three injured in attack on German military forces in north Afghanistan on Wednesday as violence in the region continues to worsen.