Afghanistan

Esper said he had directed the commander of U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan, "to get moving" on drawing down forces.

Both main candidates in the Afghan presidential election claimed victory Tuesday.

Officials are investigating after the death of a 21-year-old soldier at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

"I think peace deserves a chance," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said.

More than 5,000 casualties have resulted from U.S. efforts to bring aid to the Afghan people.

A U.S. official has confirmed that an American in Afghanistan has been kidnapped, as first reported by Newsweek.

The plane reportedly crashed in the Taliban-controlled Ghazni province.

According to stats published by Air Forces Central Command, fighter, attack and drones dropped 7,423 bombs last year.

The headquarters unit of the Army's 10th Mountain Division is headed to Afghanistan in the spring.

He was on his eighth deployment.