Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48450
Forces in Afghanistan Kill Insurgents, Destroy Roadside Bombs
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2007 – Afghan and coalition forces killed more than 21 insurgent fighters and dismantled roadside bombs in Afghanistan yesterday, military officials said.
In a day-long battle, Afghan and coalition forces killed several insurgents near the village of Deh Rawod in the Tarin Kowt district of Oruzgan province.
The Afghan-led force was conducting a security patrol in the area when a group of insurgents attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. Afghan forces quickly returned fire, putting the enemy on the defensive.
Sixteen insurgents relocated to a nearby structure, where they re-engaged the combined force. The Afghan troops returned small-arms and mortar fire and called in close-air support, effectively eliminating the enemy.
“Afghan national security forces quickly repelled the insurgent ambush. Those insurgents experienced first-hand the superior capabilities of the (forces),” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman. “The (Afghan national security forces are) working to rid Afghanistan of extremists who are working to destabilize the country and sabotage Afghan freedom.”
In Helmand province, coalition forces killed several militants using precision-guided munitions on a Taliban command and control network. Troops targeted several militants outside a compound and employed precision-guided munitions, which killed the militants, including the alleged Taliban commander, who was believed to be facilitating the movement of foreign fighters and suicide bombers throughout the area, military officials said.
In a follow-on operation, Afghan and coalition forces conducted a search of compounds in the Kajaki district of Helmand province for individuals reported to be associated with the militants targeted during the strike.
While conducting the operation, Afghan and coalition forces, using small arms, killed several armed militants who posed a credible threat to the combined force, according to military officials. During a subsequent engagement on the compound, a group of militants barricaded in a building fired on the combined force. Troops retaliated with hand grenades, killing the enemy fighters.
While searching the compound, the combined force recovered and destroyed several weapons and explosives.
“Afghan and coalition forces are having significant success in degrading the Taliban’s ability to conduct militant operations,” Belcher said.
Elsewhere, Afghan and coalition forces thwarted a group of insurgents who were trying to place an improvised explosive device on a road near the village of Pada in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province.
Air support dropped ordnance on the suspected IED location, and a secondary explosion, caused by the detonation of the IED, confirmed the weapon was set to injure or kill troops or civilians on the road between the villages of Lwar Byal, Hotak and Alekozi. The insurgents died in the explosion, military officials said.
After Afghan troops cleared the area, they continued their reconnaissance patrol and discovered and neutralized four additional roadside bombs.
“The (Afghan National Army) commander saved the lives of my detachment members, not only once, but four times in a six-hour period,” said an unidentified coalition force soldier quoted in a CJTF 82 news release. “I do not have the words to express my gratitude. … They were outstanding.”
(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48447
“Concerned Citizens Turn Over Large Cache in Iraq”
By Maj. Joe Sowers, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq, Dec. 18, 2007
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48449
Troops Kill 5, Nab 30, Destroy Terrorist Tunnels in Iraq
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2007 – Iraqi and coalition forces killed five suspected terrorists, detained 30 others and destroyed insurgent tunnels and weapons in Iraq over the past three days, military officials said.
In Iraq today:
— Coalition forces captured a suspected “special groups” leader and detained 11 others during operations in the Aziziyah area, southeast of Baghdad. The alleged leader reportedly received special weapons training, which he passed along to criminal element members who sought to attack Iraqi and coalition troops. He also holds alleged ties to several senior-level leaders involved in attacks on coalition forces, military officials said.
— Troops captured a wanted individual allegedly involved in a foreign terrorist facilitation network during an operation in Bayji. The wanted individual reportedly is a close associate of several senior facilitators, military officials said. Coalition forces nabbed two other suspected terrorists on site.
— Coalition forces captured a wanted suspect involved in foreign terrorist facilitation during an operation in Mosul. Reports indicate he is tied to numerous senior terrorists, including an al Qaeda in Iraq leader for the network north of Mosul. The individual identified himself to ground forces, who subsequently detained him.
— East of Samarra, troops captured three suspected terrorists during an operation targeting al Qaeda members associated with the network in Salah ad Din.
During operations in Iraq yesterday:
— Coalition forces killed five suspected terrorists and detained another north of Muqdadiyah while targeting associates of an al Qaeda in Iraq cell leader operating in Shirween. Supporting aircraft engaged and killed the armed men as they attacked ground forces from positions in a terrorist safe house, military officials said.
— Troops captured a wanted individual in Mosul believed to be the former leader of the Fallujah terrorist network, and an associate of the Karmah network. Ground forces detained one additional suspected terrorist.
— South of Samarra and southwest of Hawaji, coalition forces detained five suspected terrorists while targeting associates of the networks operating north of Baghdad and in Hawija, military officials said.
On Dec. 16, coalition forces captured a wanted individual South of Balad believed to be directly associated with the leader for the al Qaeda network operating north of Baghdad. The network is responsible for car-bomb and improvised-explosive-device attacks, and is involved in extortion, intimidation, weapons trafficking, and facilitating foreign terrorists’ movement. In addition to the wanted individual, the ground force detained two suspects on site without incident.
“There is no place for al Qaeda in Iraq,” said Navy Cmdr. Ed Buclatin, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “We will continue to conduct operations to root out al Qaeda in Iraq in order to secure a safer country for the people of Iraq.”
Northwest of Iskandariyah on Dec. 16, U.S. forces discovered a network of underground tunnels used by al Qaeda in Iraq to store weapons, hide fighters and launch attacks against coalition forces.
Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, discovered a cache of improvised explosive device components and were investigating the materials when they unearthed the tunnel network along the Euphrates River.
The tunnels provided access to numerous al Qaeda fighting positions, military officials said. Inside, coalition forces found several machine-gun rounds, which led troops to believe the tunnels may have served as enemy firing positions for anti-aircraft guns, as well as hiding places for terrorist fighters after launching attacks.
Coalition air teams rained missiles and bombs on the tunnels, completely collapsing the network.
U.S. and Iraqi soldiers are in the area as part of Operation Marne Roundup, the latest coalition offensive to target extremists around Iskandariyah that launched Dec. 15. After securing the area, coalition forces plan to build Patrol Base Khidr, a security outpost where Iraqi police will coordinate efforts with local citizens to secure major roads leading to and from Iskandariyah.
Elsewhere in Iraq on Dec. 16, a scout weapons team from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade destroyed a vehicle transporting mortars near Arab Jabour, military officials said.
Meanwhile, a group of concerned local citizens in the area turned over a cache of weapons to soldiers from Company D, 1-30th Infantry Regiment. The cache, which was later destroyed, contained 10 rocket-propelled grenades, 10 pounds of dynamite, a grenade and 90 blasting caps.
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq and Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)