U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan at 1,892
As of June 26, 2012, at least 1,892 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count.
At least 1,577 military service members have died in Afghanistan as a result of hostile action, according to the military’s numbers.
Outside of Afghanistan, the department reports at least 114 more members of the U.S. military died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Of those, 12 were the result of hostile action.
The AP count of total OEF casualties outside of Afghanistan is one more than the department’s tally.
The Defense Department also counts three military civilian deaths.
Since the start of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, 16,584 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action, according to the Defense Department. AP
Striking Lockheed Martin machinists vote June 28
Striking Lockheed Martin machinists will vote June 28 on a new labor deal.
Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Fort Worth went on strike April 23. Union members earlier rejected an offer that would have raised health care costs and eliminated pensions for new hires.
Leaders of Machinists Local 776, which represents about 3,600 striking workers, announced a tentative deal June 23 after four days of talks.
The four-year agreement, outlined June 25, says workers would get $2,000, plus annual pay increases starting at 3 percent the first year. Current basic health care plans would not change.
Workers hired after July 2, the deadline for ratification, would not get traditional pensions but instead would have a retirement savings plan and contributions from Lockheed Martin. AP
Turkey threatens Syria with retaliation
Turkey, responding to the downing of one of its jets by Syrian forces, says its military will respond to any future violation of its border by Syrian military elements.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said June 26 that Turkish Armed Forces “will respond to all violations on the Syrian border.”
He said Syrian helicopters have violated Turkish airspace five times recently, without Turkish response.
Syria insists that the Turkish plane violated its air space. But Turkey disagrees, saying that though the plane had unintentionally strayed into Syria’s air space, it was inside international airspace when it was brought down June 22. AP
