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From AP: U.S. forces launch largest air assault since Iraq invasion

Thursday, March 16, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — U.S. forces joined by Iraqi troops on Thursday launched the largest air assault since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital, the military said.

The U.S. military said the air- and ground-offensive dubbed Operation Swarmer was aimed at clearing "a suspected insurgent operating area" northeast of Samarra and was expected to continue over several days.

Residents in the targeted area said there was a heavy U.S. and Iraqi troop presence in the area and large explosions could be heard in the distance. It was unclear if the blasts were due to fighting.

The military termed the operation the largest air assault since the invasion nearly three years ago, but it was not clear if any U.S. aircraft opened fire during the operation or if there had been any insurgent resistance.

"More than 1,500 Iraqi and Coalition troops, over 200 tactical vehicles, and more than 50 aircraft participated in the operation," the military statement said.

The U.S. command in Baghdad said it was the largest number of aircraft used to insert troops and the largest number of troops inserted by air, although larger numbers of troops overall have been involved in previous operations.

There was no immediate word on whether any fighter jets or other fixed-wing warplanes had dropped bombs or fired missiles as part of the assault. Also left unsaid was how many of the 1,500 total troops involved were Iraqis.

Afghan National Security Forces focus on poppy eradication

Afghan National Security Forces oversee poppy destruction in the provinces as part of a nationwide poppy eradication program. (Courtesy photo)

March 15, 2006

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The efforts of senior leaders from the Ministries of Defense, Interior and Counter Narcotics are producing more results for the people of Afghanistan . The planning and coordination among the ministries has produced an Afghan National Security Force that is capable of conducting independent operations with minimal support.

Two significant events tested the force’s capabilities this month, and they passed. Now they face a third, ongoing challenge that has plagued Afghanistan for decades – the cultivation of poppy crops to produce opium.

The first test was a Taliban and al-Qaida uprising at the Pol-e-Charkhi prison March 2. The security forces quickly and decisively responded, displaying confidence and skill by restoring prison control with no escapes and minimal casualties to prisoners or the security forces.

This potentially-volatile situation, including the command and control function, was carried out solely by the ANSF. Its ability to quickly marshal the required forces, and then employ them, is a great step forward on the road to realizing a force that is capable of providing for the safety and security of all Afghans.

The second example of increased ANSF synergy was the successful cordon and search in Khost on March 5. More than 400 Afghan security forces teamed with Coalition forces to simultaneously provide cordon security, reconnaissance patrols and multiple vehicle checkpoints. The aggressive vehicle and property searches disrupted insurgents’ efforts and provided additional security in the region.

While keeping its citizens safe from immediate threat, the ANSF is also focusing on another significant challenge threatening the Afghan people – opium.

Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of poppies, and 90 percent of the world’s total opium supply comes from these plants. Money generated from the poppy cultivation fuels terrorists, criminals and corruption, which prevents vital social and economic reconstruction efforts needed to provide more critically-needed jobs, schools, hospitals and basic services to the Afghan people.

Sap is extracted from a poppy plant by slitting the pod vertically in parallel strokes with a special knife. (U.S. federal government photo)

The poppy eradication campaign has already started in the Helmand Province , where the governor and provincial officials developed an eradication plan and are now closely supervising its implementation. The Afghan Eradication Forces who are carrying out this task are committed to serving the Afghan people.

This year the governor has the necessary resources to eradicate poppy in the provinces – money, equipment, security forces and, where necessary, the central government’s Ministry of Interior forces will also be available for further eradication.

This plan is not limited to Helmand, rather it is a nationwide program designed to end the illegal business that causes addiction and destroys families and communities of Afghanistan .

So far, thousands of hectares of poppy fields have already been destroyed.

"The governor-led poppy eradication campaign is successfully ongoing in different provinces of the country, and hopefully the eradication will start in Badakhshan Province soon. This shows the government of Afghanistan is committed to eradicating poppies all over the country," said Lt. Gen. Mohammad Duad, deputy minister for counternarcotics.

The National Internal Security Strategy vision developed recently at the strategies seminar provides the foundation for the ANSF to increase its operational capabilities. Successes at the Pol-e-Charkhi prison, the Khost cordon and search, and now the poppy eradication program, have proven that the ANSF is poised and capable of providing a safe and secure environment for all Afghans.

By: COMBINED FORCES COMMAND - AFGHANISTAN COALITION PRESS INFORMATION CENTER - KABUL, AFGHANISTAN