U.S. Army soldiers provide security during a mission

U.S. Army soldiers provide security during a mission in Nuristan province, Afghanistan, April 15. Afghan National Army commandos and coalition special operations forces, the first to visit that area in more than two years, defeated insurgent forces overrunning a village. After commandos and coalition special operations forces had completed their objective, conventional forces arrived to replace their counterparts. Commando-led missions provide national security by encouraging local villagers to look to government forces for support rather than insurgents.