On the offensive
The week's news at a glance.
Kunar, Afghanistan
U.S. and Afghan forces this week killed more than 40 militants in Kunar, a lawless province near the Pakistani border where the Taliban has been mounting a new offensive. In June, a U.S. helicopter was downed in the valley, killing 19 soldiers. Last weekend, four soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb, bringing the U.S. death toll in the country to 65 for the year. In the last few weeks, as Afghanistan prepares for the Sept. 18 legislative elections, U.S. troops have engaged militants in dozens of firefights, killing more than 100, according to the Pentagon. A spokesman for the Taliban this week announced that the guerrillas have decided not to attack polling stations during the election, but said the struggle against U.S. and Afghan troops will continue.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Crossword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff