Free Republic

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed an insurgent and detained two suspects yesterday while searching for a Taliban leader in the Dowlatabad district of Afghanistan’s Faryab province, military officials reported. The targeted leader is the Taliban’s second in command in Jowzjan province. He is responsible for imposing illegal taxes on villagers, orchestrating attacks on Afghan security force checkpoints, and transporting insurgent supplies and weapons. In other Afghanistan operations yesterday: -- In the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, a combined Afghan and coalition force detained two suspects with ties to the Taliban. The security...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2011 – A combined Afghan and International Security Assistance Force patrol killed several insurgents and detained numerous others in the Mya Neshin district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province yesterday, military officials reported. The insurgent leader targeted in the operation facilitates attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said. Today in Kandahar province’s Panjwai district, coalition forces found and destroyed 705 pounds of homemade explosives. Also today, a coalition patrol approached a group of Afghan civilians who had found a cache of munitions. The Afghans turned the cache over to coalition forces without incident. The cache consisted of nine...

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 5, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition force yesterday killed a Taliban leader and one suspected insurgent during a security operation in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province, military officials reported. Sheen Abdul Rahman was a Taliban leader who directed more than 70 fighters to conduct roadside bomb, landmine and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Afghan members of the combined force located Rahman, who was armed with an AK-47 rifle and chest rack. Rahman was engaged and killed when he presented a threat to the force. While searching a building, the security force...

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 4, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained a Haqqani network leader yesterday during a security operation in the Sperah district of Afghanistan’s Khost province, military officials reported. The detained leader was responsible for directing more than 250 fighters, including Uzbek foreign fighters, in attacks against Afghan government officials and soldiers. He also planned and coordinated several attacks on the Sperah District Center. In other Afghanistan operations yesterday: -- In the Baghlan-e Jadid district of Baghlan province, an Afghan and coalition force detained a Taliban facilitator and an associate. The detained facilitator is linked...

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 3, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed two insurgents during a search for an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator in the Khanabad district of Afghanistan’s Kunduz province yesterday, military officials reported. The targeted facilitator is responsible for coordinating suicide attacks throughout the province. The security force was threatened by two armed insurgents. The force engaged the two men, killing them. In other Afghanistan operations yesterday: -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader and one of his associates during an operation in the Shah Joy district of Zabul province....

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 2, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained multiple suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani terrorist network leader in the Mata Khan district of Afghanistan’s Paktika province yesterday, military officials reported. The target of the search is responsible for kidnappings and for attacks against Afghan forces, officials said. While searching the area, the security force confiscated a machine gun, grenades, assault rifles, bomb-making materials and chest racks. In other operations yesterday around Afghanistan: -- A combined force in Baghlan province’s Pul-e Khumri district detained a Taliban leader who directed suicide-bomb attacks against Afghan...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation in the Washer district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province yesterday, military officials reported. The force was searching for a senior Taliban leader who is responsible for providing attack guidance to subordinate insurgents. In other operations yesterday: -- A combined force in Kandahar province detained a Taliban leader in Kandahar City. The leader was responsible for coordinating roadside-bomb attacks against Afghan forces. -- In Zabul province’s Shah Joy district, a combined force detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban leader responsible...

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 26, 2011 – An Afghan-led security force killed two Taliban insurgents today during a search for a roadside bomb expert operating in the Qush Tepah district of Afghanistan’s Jowzjan province, military officials reported. The security force was notified of multiple insurgents carrying out operations in the area. Local residents informed them about Taliban members who were collecting illegal taxes and coercing residents with the threat of death. The first insurgent was engaged and killed after the security force noticed him taking an offensive fighting position. At a separate location, another insurgent, who also displayed hostile intent, was...

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan, July 22, 2011 – Combined security forces, including Afghan special forces, yesterday killed more than 50 insurgents here during the clearance of a Haqqani network foreign fighter encampment, military officials reported. The encampment site was a staging area for Haqqani and foreign fighters. These fighters were moved into the country by Haqqani insurgents who planned to use them for attacks throughout Afghanistan. The Haqqani network has been responsible for several high-profile attacks against the Afghan government and citizens, including the recent Intercontinental Hotel attack in June. During the operation, the security force was engaged by groups of...

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 21, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents and detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban leader in the Alisheng district of Afghanistan’s Laghman province yesterday, military officials reported. The Afghan-led force killed several insurgents and detained the suspect after coming under fire upon entering the area. In other operations yesterday: -- An Afghan-led combined force in Balkh province’s Chimtal district, detained a Taliban logistics officer responsible for obtaining supplies and collecting taxes to fund Taliban operations, along with two of his associates. -- In Baghlan province’s Baghlan-e Jadid district,...

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 20, 2011 – An Afghan-led security patrol killed numerous Haqqani network insurgents and detained two suspects while conducting a clearance operation in the Bermal district of Afghanistan’s Paktika province yesterday, military officials reported. Upon arriving at a compound, the security patrol was fired on by several armed insurgents. The patrol returned fire, killing the insurgents. The patrol discovered several grenades, AK-47 rifles and chest racks within the compound. Two additional individuals with suspected ties to the Haqqani network were detained. In other Afghanistan operations yesterday: -- In the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, an Afghan-led force...

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2011 – An Afghan-led combined security force detained several suspected insurgents and confiscated roadside bomb materials while searching for a Taliban facilitator in the Khugyani district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province yesterday, military officials reported. The facilitator assists numerous roadside bomb cells in the district and acts as an information liaison to Taliban leadership. One roadside bomb was confiscated and safely destroyed during the operation. In other Afghanistan news yesterday: -- A combined Afghan and coalition force detained one suspect while searching for a Taliban leader in the Daman district of Kandahar province. The leader is responsible for...

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2011 – An Afghan-led combined security force killed six Haqqani network fighters including one armed adult female insurgent during an operation in the Khost district of Afghanistan’s Khost province yesterday, military officials reported. The security force was attacked by several armed insurgents while attempting to clear a compound near a coalition base in the district. Multiple insurgents, armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols, fired at the security force. The force engaged the insurgents, killing three. As the combined force continued to search the compound, another insurgent attempted to engage the force with his AK-47 and was killed....

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (July 13, 2011) – Members of the Afghan National Army responded to an insurgent attack, which resulted in eight enemy deaths, in Hasan Village, Gelan district, July 7. The ANA Special Response Team, partnered with coalition Special Operations Forces, conducted a presence patrol to determine public opinions and conduct key leader engagements prior to embedding in a village stability platform. After conducting a shura with village elders, the combined forces were attacked with indirect fire, small arms fire, mortars, and rocket propelled grenades. The forces were engaged by multiple groups of insurgents for more than six hours. After...

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 13, 2011 – An Afghan-led combined security force detained a Haqqani network leader and one suspected insurgent in the Terayzai district of Afghanistan’s Khost province yesterday, military officials reported. The leader was responsible for the distribution of weapons and supplies throughout the district, and also emplaced roadside bombs in the area. In other Afghanistan news yesterday: -- An Afghan-led combined force detained multiple suspects during a security operation targeting an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in the Burkah district of Baghlan province. The leader was recently appointed head governing official for insurgent operations in the district. --...

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed numerous insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in the Azrah district of Afghanistan’s Logar province yesterday, military officials reported. The insurgents, armed with a machine gun and assault rifles, opened fire on the force, but with assistance from an air weapons team, the combined force killed the insurgents. The target of the operation was a Taliban leader responsible for directing roadside-bomb attacks and commanding subordinate leaders and fighters in the province’s Hisarak district. In other operations in Afghanistan yesterday: -- In Balkh province’s Sholgarah district, a...

WASHINGTON, July 11, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition patrol killed several insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader during an operation in the Saraj district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province yesterday, military officials reported. The operation also resulted in the discovery of an improvised explosive device factory. The patrol seized 16 improvised explosive devices, eight anti-personnel mines, six grenades, several rockets, two suicide IED vests packed with explosives and detonators, a large amount of IED components and small-arms ammunition. In other Afghanistan operations yesterday: -- In the Kunduz district of Kunduz province, a combined Afghan and coalition force...

PAKTIYA, Afghanistan (July 8, 2011)– An insurgent mortar attack landed in a civilian populated area injuring eight Afghan civilians in Dand Patan district, July 3. At least 3 mortar rounds fired by insurgents resulted in severe injuries requiring medical evacuation. Coalition Special Forces operating near the incident provided first aid and called for a medical evacuation. Four young male children, a female child under the age of 2, one female adult, and two male adults were medically evacuated from the scene by coalition forces to a U.S. military hospital for treatment. The injured had severe shrapnel wounds to the head,...

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (July 8, 2011)– At least eight insurgents were killed after they attempted an attack against coalition Special Operation Forces (SOF) of Special Operations Task Force – South, in the Khakrez district of southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, July 1. Insurgents attacked SOF with small arms and machine gun fire during a meeting with village elders to promote ongoing village stability programs within the area. The SOF team was able to positively identify the insurgents at which time they called for air support. U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft responded and performed multiple gun runs on the insurgents. Afterword, coalition...

URUZGAN, Afghanistan (July 6, 2011)- Afghan National Police and their Australian Special Forces partners have captured a prominent insurgent bomb maker and several associates in a targeted operation in Uruzgan’s Mirabad Valley. On 2 July 2011, members of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) partnered with the Provincial Response Company Uruzgan (PRC-U) conducted a cordon and search operation in a known insurgent area and detained nine individuals, one who was positively identified as a senior district level insurgent commander. The Commanding Officer of the SOTG (who cannot be named for operational security reasons) said the detention of the insurgent commander...