Combined Afghan and international forces killed or detained numerous enemy fighters in Afghanistan in recent days, military officials reported.

A combined force in Nangarhar province today detained several suspected militants, including a sought-after Taliban facilitator believed to be responsible for numerous weapons shipments to other militant elements in the area. No shots were fired, and no civilians were harmed during the operation.

In eastern Paktika province yesterday, a combined force killed a group of enemy militants and detained two suspected militants while pursuing a Haqqani terrorist network commander with ties to the local Haqqani leadership. He is believed to be responsible for several attacks in the area.

During the assault, the combined force was fired upon and returned fire. Following no response from calls for occupants to come out, the force cleared the building and killed a group of militants inside and outside the building.

A security element searched the enemy positions and recovered blasting caps, bomb-making materials, rocket-propelled grenades, assault rifles, chest racks and communications equipment.

In a separate operation yesterday, a combined force killed an enemy militant in Wardak province while pursuing a Taliban commander believed to be responsible for planning and executing several attacks in the area. The force was fired upon and returned fire, killing an enemy militant. A security element recovered an assault rifle, ammunition magazines and hand grenades.

Also yesterday, a combined force detained more than a dozen suspected militants while pursuing a Taliban commander operating in Kandahar province who is linked to the local Taliban “shadow governor.” Security elements from the combined force pursued suspects seen departing from one of the targeted compounds, detained several suspected militants and recovered an artillery round.

In Kunduz province yesterday, a combined force detained two suspected militants while pursuing a deputy to a Taliban shadow governor.

In other news from Afghanistan, in response to claims of civilian casualties during an operation in Shindand province Nov. 14, International Security Assistance Force officials confirmed the same day that in the early morning hours, a combined force searched a number of compounds associated with a leading roadside-bomber.

Upon entering the targeted complex, the force encountered resistance, and in the subsequent escalation of force, killed one insurgent. The force then was fired upon while clearing the compound, and several armed insurgents were killed, including a woman, officials said.

“The security force protected several women and children present in the compounds, and no civilians were harmed during the operation,” ISAF officials said in a statement. “Additionally, ISAF aircraft did not drop munitions in the area.”

On Nov. 13, a combined force detained several suspected militants in Zabul province while pursuing a Taliban district commander responsible for several attacks in the area and linked to the local Taliban shadow governor.

After repeated calls for occupants to exit one of the targeted compounds, the force used an explosive charge to enter it. The charge inadvertently wounded an Afghan woman who was standing on the other side of the door. The force provided immediate medical aid to the woman, but she later died. Unspecified numbers of enemy fighters were killed or detained.

An element of the force met with local tribal elders to explain the situation and provided compensation to the damaged building’s owner.

Combined Afghan and international forces killed or detained numerous enemy fighters in Afghanistan in recent days, military officials reported.

A combined force in Nangarhar province today detained several suspected militants, including a sought-after Taliban facilitator believed to be responsible for numerous weapons shipments to other militant elements in the area. No shots were fired, and no civilians were harmed during the operation.

In eastern Paktika province yesterday, a combined force killed a group of enemy militants and detained two suspected militants while pursuing a Haqqani terrorist network commander with ties to the local Haqqani leadership. He is believed to be responsible for several attacks in the area.

During the assault, the combined force was fired upon and returned fire. Following no response from calls for occupants to come out, the force cleared the building and killed a group of militants inside and outside the building.

A security element searched the enemy positions and recovered blasting caps, bomb-making materials, rocket-propelled grenades, assault rifles, chest racks and communications equipment.

In a separate operation yesterday, a combined force killed an enemy militant in Wardak province while pursuing a Taliban commander believed to be responsible for planning and executing several attacks in the area. The force was fired upon and returned fire, killing an enemy militant. A security element recovered an assault rifle, ammunition magazines and hand grenades.

Also yesterday, a combined force detained more than a dozen suspected militants while pursuing a Taliban commander operating in Kandahar province who is linked to the local Taliban “shadow governor.” Security elements from the combined force pursued suspects seen departing from one of the targeted compounds, detained several suspected militants and recovered an artillery round.

In Kunduz province yesterday, a combined force detained two suspected militants while pursuing a deputy to a Taliban shadow governor.

In other news from Afghanistan, in response to claims of civilian casualties during an operation in Shindand province Nov. 14, International Security Assistance Force officials confirmed the same day that in the early morning hours, a combined force searched a number of compounds associated with a leading roadside-bomber.

Upon entering the targeted complex, the force encountered resistance, and in the subsequent escalation of force, killed one insurgent. The force then was fired upon while clearing the compound, and several armed insurgents were killed, including a woman, officials said.

“The security force protected several women and children present in the compounds, and no civilians were harmed during the operation,” ISAF officials said in a statement. “Additionally, ISAF aircraft did not drop munitions in the area.”

On Nov. 13, a combined force detained several suspected militants in Zabul province while pursuing a Taliban district commander responsible for several attacks in the area and linked to the local Taliban shadow governor.

After repeated calls for occupants to exit one of the targeted compounds, the force used an explosive charge to enter it. The charge inadvertently wounded an Afghan woman who was standing on the other side of the door. The force provided immediate medical aid to the woman, but she later died. Unspecified numbers of enemy fighters were killed or detained.

An element of the force met with local tribal elders to explain the situation and provided compensation to the damaged building’s owner.

Coalition and Afghan forces seized dozens of suspected enemy fighters during recent operations in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. military officials said.

In an operation yesterday, a joint Afghan and coalition force searched a compound in Khost province believed to be frequented by an insurgent known for coordinating attacks against troops as part of the Haqqani terrorist network.

After intelligence indicated militant activity at a compound near the village of Majles, north of the city of Khost, the joint force searched the area and detained seven suspects, including the wanted man.

No Afghan, international security forces or civilian casualties were reported during the incident.

During operations July 25, a joint security force searched a compound in the remote reaches of Paktika province in an effort to disrupt Haqqani command and control, communications, and supply lines in the region.

The joint team searched the compound in the Deela district of Paktika, about 95 miles southwest of Gardez, after intelligence indicated militant activity. Combined forces detained five suspects in the raid.

During July 24 operations:

– A joint force seized a weapons cache in Nangarhar province as part of the ongoing effort to disrupt Taliban operations, particularly suicide-bomber and homemade-bombing attacks against Afghan National Army and international security units in the region. In a raid, troops killed several enemy combatants and detained eight others.

– Combined forces searched a suspected militant compound in Paktia province in an effort to disrupt Haqqani financial and logistical support lines extending from the Khost-Gardez Pass and into the country. The joint force detained seven suspects in the operation.

– A joint Afghan and international security force detained an unreported number of suspected enemy fighters during a search of a compound in Kandahar province that also yielded incriminating photographs. Three Afghan security force members died and three others were wounded in the operation. An investigation into the incident has been directed.

Source: Department of Defense

Afghan and coalition forces killed several enemy fighters, detained one other and destroyed weapons caches in operations in Afghanistan over the past two days, military officials reported.

A joint Afghan and coalition force killed enemy fighters and detained a suspect on a Taliban compound in central Helmand province yesterday.

The force was pursuing a senior Taliban commander believed responsible for the recruitment of bomb-making technicians and the transfer of weapons and bomb-making materials into the region.

The combined force searched a compound near the village of Heyderabad after intelligence indicated militant activity there. The force engaged a group of enemy fighters after receiving fire.
The force detained an enemy fighter and seized an AK-47 assault rifle, a chest rack and 75 pounds of black-tar heroin.

When leaving the compound, the force was engaged multiple times and called in precision close-air support. Several enemy fighters were killed during the incident.

No Afghan or coalition force or civilian casualties were reported.

Elsewhere, Afghan National Police, aided by coalition forces, killed several militants and destroyed a large weapons cache in Zabul province’s Arghandab and Shajoy districts July 20 during a cordon-and-search operation in an area known as a militant leader meeting point and Taliban recruiting area.

Upon entering a local village, militants engaged the Afghan-led joint force with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. The force responded with small arms and heavy weapons, killing multiple militants.

A search yielded a large weapons cache that included an estimated 7,000 pounds of explosives and other miscellaneous ammunition. The force destroyed the cache in place.

An Afghan National Police member and two coalition members were wounded. They were treated before being evacuated to a nearby coalition hospital. No civilian casualties were reported.

Source: Department of Defense