People cross a flooded street during a rainstorm as Tropical Storm Hilary arrives Palm Springs, California on August 20, 2023. Southern California is under a tropical storm warning which could bring heavy rains, high winds and flooding. (Photo by Philip Cheung for The Washington Post)

Enthusiasts gathered at Cad East in Snowdonia National Park, England to take pictures of F-15 Eagle fighters as they completed the Mach Loop, November 2017. (Photo by Caters News Agency)

(L-R) Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jesy Nelson, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix attend the KISS FM Haunted House Party at SSE Arena on October 29, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J. Hogan/Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images)

Kamaz' Russia driver Andrey Karginov, co-driver Andrey Mokeev and Igor Lenonov compete during the Stage 6 of the Dakar 2020 between Ha'il and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 10, 2020. (Photo by Franck Fife/AFP Photo)

Yeshiva School students briefly dance on Grant Street after the menorah lighting outside of the City-County Building for the fifth night of Hanukkah, Thursday, December 26, 2019, in downtown Pittsburgh. (Photo by Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP Photo)

Throughout the course of the long war in Afghanistan, Coalition troops have relied on thousands of military working dogs to help keep them safe, and make their jobs easier. The dogs are trained to detect explosives, to find illegal drugs, to search for missing comrades, or target enemy combatants. Not only are they active on the front lines, but behind the lines they serve as therapy dogs, service dogs, and loyal companions. They also share the same risks as the ground troops, suffering injuries and sometimes death on the battlefields. Gathered here are images of these dogs and their handlers in Afghanistan and back home, from over the past several years, part of the ongoing series here on Afghanistan.

Reuters South Africa-based photographer Juda Ngwenya who documented Nelson Mandela's historic rise to power died on Wednesday. Here: Prostitutes wait at a bar in a plush northern suburb of Johannesburg August 22, 2002. (Photo by Juda Ngwenya/Reuters)

Actress Penelope Cruz attends a photocall promoting the film “Chromophobia” at the Palais during the 58th International Cannes Film Festival May 21, 2005 in Cannes, France. (Photo by M. J. Kim/Getty Images)