UK Accuses US Soldiers of Stealing Remnants of Historic Battle in Afghanistan

A US Marine walks near Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers during training in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 5, 2017. REUTERS/OMAR SOBHANI
A US Marine walks near Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers during training in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 5, 2017. REUTERS/OMAR SOBHANI
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UK Accuses US Soldiers of Stealing Remnants of Historic Battle in Afghanistan

A US Marine walks near Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers during training in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 5, 2017. REUTERS/OMAR SOBHANI
A US Marine walks near Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers during training in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 5, 2017. REUTERS/OMAR SOBHANI

Military artifacts and personal possessions left by the British troops in the 19th century during the Battle of Maiwand were stolen by the US troops in Afghanistan in 2009.

The British Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed on Monday that US troops may have 'broken international law' after many of the items from the Maiwand Battle were sold to collectors and turned up online.

The announcement made headlines in the British newspapers. Evidence of items being looted has now been presented to the Pentagon by the MoD.

The battle was one of the bloodiest conflicts in history after 969 British and Indian soldiers were killed as they tried to push back against thousands of tribesmen.

Historical records show that bodies were buried soon after the bloodshed along with any other possessions that had not already been looted by Afghans. But the remains were taken from the ground after a large force of US soldiers as they waged in conflict with the Taliban.

A US soldier is understood to have sent historical war artifacts back home.

One collector confirmed they had purchased items, such as binoculars, coins, rifle parts and watch chains, from a soldier who dug up the items.

The items were posted to the Victorian War Forum website and captioned as follows: "Sent to me by my friend's son who is currently serving with the 1st Infantry Regiment."

Collectables from battles such as Maiwand, which featured in Sherlock Holmes novels, are more valuable because of their history.

Major Chris Green, a former officer in the London Regiment who fought near the famous Maiwand battle in 2012, said: 'Taking possessions from belonging to dead British soldiers from a battlefield...for personal gain is wrong."



US Announces Aid to Bolster Thailand, Cambodia Truce

This handout photograph taken and released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) on January 2, 2026 shows a general view of damaged houses following clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers, in Chouk Chey village in Banteay Meanchey province. (Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) on January 2, 2026 shows a general view of damaged houses following clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers, in Chouk Chey village in Banteay Meanchey province. (Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) / AFP)
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US Announces Aid to Bolster Thailand, Cambodia Truce

This handout photograph taken and released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) on January 2, 2026 shows a general view of damaged houses following clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers, in Chouk Chey village in Banteay Meanchey province. (Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) on January 2, 2026 shows a general view of damaged houses following clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers, in Chouk Chey village in Banteay Meanchey province. (Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) / AFP)

The United States on Friday announced some $45 million in aid as it tries to bolster a fragile truce between Thailand and Cambodia.

Michael DeSombre, the top State Department official for East Asia, was visiting Thailand and Cambodia to discuss ways to strengthen the ceasefire, which President Donald Trump has sought to highlight as an achievement.

DeSombre said the United States would offer $20 million to help both countries combat drug trafficking and cyber scams, which have become a major concern in Cambodia.

He also said the United States would give $15 million to help support people displaced by the recent fighting as well as $10 million for demining, AFP said.

"The United States will continue to support the Cambodian and Thai governments as they implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords and pave the way for a return to peace, prosperity and stability for their people and the region," DeSombre said in a statement.

He was referring to an agreement signed between the two countries in the presence of Trump during an October visit to Malaysia, then head of the ASEAN regional bloc.

Major new clashes erupted last month. The two sides reached a truce on December 27 after three weeks of fighting, although Thailand accused Cambodia of violating in apparent accidental fire.

Cambodia has called on Thailand to pull out its forces from several border areas that Phnom Penh claims as its own.

The nations' long-standing conflict stems from a dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometer (500-mile) border, where both sides claim territory and centuries-old temple ruins.

Trump has listed the conflict as one of a number of wars he says he has solved as he loudly insists he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump on taking office drastically slashed foreign aid, including for months freezing longstanding assistance to Cambodia for demining, with the administration saying it will provide money only in support of narrow US interests.


Zelensky Calls for 'Clear Reaction' From World to Russian Attack

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the Coalition of the Willing summit on security guarantees for Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 06 January 2026.  EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL  MAXPPP OUT
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the Coalition of the Willing summit on security guarantees for Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 06 January 2026. EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL MAXPPP OUT
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Zelensky Calls for 'Clear Reaction' From World to Russian Attack

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the Coalition of the Willing summit on security guarantees for Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 06 January 2026.  EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL  MAXPPP OUT
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the Coalition of the Willing summit on security guarantees for Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 06 January 2026. EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL MAXPPP OUT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the world to act after Russia hit western Ukraine with its new Oreshnik ballistic missile in a massive overnight attack that killed four in the capital Kyiv.

"A clear reaction from the world is needed. Above all from the United States, whose signals Russia truly pays attention to," Zelensky said on social media.

"Russia must receive signals that it is its obligation to focus on diplomacy, and must feel consequences every time it again focuses on killings and the destruction of infrastructure," he added.


Turkish Airlines Cancels Friday’s Istanbul-Tehran Flights

Iranians walk on a street in Tehran, Iran, 08 January 2026. (EPA)
Iranians walk on a street in Tehran, Iran, 08 January 2026. (EPA)
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Turkish Airlines Cancels Friday’s Istanbul-Tehran Flights

Iranians walk on a street in Tehran, Iran, 08 January 2026. (EPA)
Iranians walk on a street in Tehran, Iran, 08 January 2026. (EPA)

Turkish Airlines has cancelled its five Friday flights to the Iranian capital Tehran, which has been rocked by protests against the rising cost of living, according to the Istanbul Airport app.

Five other flights operated by Iranian airlines have also been cancelled, according to the airport app, while seven others remain scheduled.

Turkish authorities have not commented so far on the situation in Iran, where the protests have challenged the authorities under Ali Khamenei.

The Iranian government was already battling an economic crisis after years of sanctions and recovering from the June war against Israel.

Rights groups have accused Iranian security forces of opening fire on demonstrators, with the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights saying Thursday that security forces had killed at least 45 protesters, including eight minors, since the demonstrations began.

According to the specialist website Flight Radar, a Turkish Airlines plane flying to Shiraz and a Pegasus flight to Mashad turned back from Iranian space on Thursday night.

Türkiye shares a border of around 500 kilometers (300 miles) with Iran, and there are three active land crossings between the two countries.