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2 U.S. service members die in Afghanistan, bringing 2019 total to 16

2 U.S. service members stationed in Afghanistan were killed Wednesday, per NATO Resolute Support. The names of the service members will be withheld for 24 hours until the next of kin is notified.

Why it matters: The Afghanistan war is America's longest, with 17 years having passed since Operation Enduring Freedom began. The number of service members killed in 2019 now totals 16.

  • Most Americans view the war as a failure, and civil unrest continues in Afghanistan. Earlier this week, a suicide bombing at a wedding in Kabul killed 80 and injured dozens of others. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, per AP.
  • The Islamic State's presence has continued to grow in Afghanistan as the U.S. considers withdrawal.

Go deeper: Lindsey Graham tries to talk Trump out of Afghanistan pullout by 2020

Afghanistan