R.I.P. - Sgt. Nicholas M. Dickhut

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Sgt. Nicholas M. Dickhut, 23, of Rochester, Minn., died April 30 in Zharay, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

            For more information the media may contact Joint Base Lewis-McChord public affairs office at 253-967-0152 or 0148.

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Dickhut, a 23-year-old native of Stewartville, Minn., was killed in a firefight in southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, his parents told Minnesota news outlets.
He had deployed from the base south of Tacoma in December with the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.
Dickhut was a forward observer with the Stryker brigade, a job that requires a soldier to be the eyes of distant artillery guns and to call for indirect fire and air support onto enemy positions.
He was assigned to another brigade from the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, N.C. at the time of his death, his mother, Jacqueline Carson, told Minnesota Public Radio.
It was his second combat tour.
“I don’t even want to think about the fact that he’s never coming home,” she said.
“All the plans that he had made and all the things we talked about, it’s just never going to happen. I really thought he was going to make it. I really did.”

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/04/30/2126618/jblm-soldier-killed-in-afghanistan.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/04/30/2126618/jblm-soldier-killed-in-afghanistan.html

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/05/ap-joint-base-lewis-mcchord-soldier-killed-afghanistan-combat-043012/

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12 Taliban fighters give up militancy in W. Afghanistan

filephoto

HERAT, Afghanistan, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A dozen armed Taliban militants gave up fighting and joined the government-backed peace process in Herat province 640 km west of capital Kabul on Wednesday, spokesman for the provincial government said.

"Twelve armed Taliban fighters under Mullah Jandad handed over their weapons to authorities in Kushk-e-Rabat district and joined the peace process today," Mohiuding Noori told Xinhua.

All the former militants have also handed over the weapons to police and vowed to defend peace in the country, he said.

Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to make comment.

According to officials, more than 3,500 Taliban fighters have laid down arms and joined the government-backed national reconciliation and peace process over the past one year, but it was rejected by the Taliban outfit as baseless.

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Nigerian troops raid suspected hideout of militants, killing one

KANO, Nigeria, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian troops on Tuesday stormed a suspected hideout of Islamic militants in the northwestern Kano state, killing one member, an army officer said.

The Nigerian Army launched the raid on a suspected hideout of Boko Haram members early Tuesday on a tip-off, Iliyasu Abbah, commander of the 3rd Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Kano, told reporters.

One Boko Haram member, who was believed to have masterminded an attack on Christian worshippers, was shot dead during the operation in Bubugaje, a slum area, while another escaped, said Abbah.

More than 500 rounds of ammunition, explosives, one AK-47 rifle, 35 knives, several SIM cards and modems, two laptops and five Jerry cans were found in the house, he said.

The house was later demolished by a bulldozer.

Abbah urged the public to cooperate with security operatives in order to wipe out the terrorists in the country, saying the Nigerian Army would continue to do its best in order to ensure that peace returns to the state.

Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for recent deadly attacks in the northern part of Nigeria, including the bombing of a major newspaper in the country's capital city of Abuja last Thursday.

Since the Islamic group launched an uprising in 2009, hundreds of people have been killed in violence in the country.

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25 armed insurgents killed and 29 others arrested by ANP

25 armed insurgents killed and 29 others arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched nine joint clearance operations in Laghman, Kunduz, Helmand, Zabul, Maidan Wardak, Logar, Paktika and Badghis provinces.

As a result of these operations, 25 armed insurgents were killed and 29 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated six different types of weapons, five anti-vehicle mines, 34 kilograms of opium, five heavy rounds, one radio handset, 900 kilograms of explosive materials and two motorbikes.

During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused one anti-vehicle mine as a result of security operation in the Dehkhil region, Gurbuz District of Khost province.

The Afghan National Police dedicate their lives to protecting the people.

 

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained four individuals accused of drinking alcoholic beverages and assault in the 2nd, 8th and 10th Districts of Kabul-City.

The ANP encourages all citizens to report suspicious activities and criminal acts.

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6 killed in Kabul suicide attack (+video)

REUTERS/Omar Sobhani

KABUL (PAN): Six people were killed and 16 others wounded on Wednesday morning after a suicide attack on an international military base at the 9th police district of Kabul, an official said.

The explosion took place at 6:15 am when a suicide bomber crashed his explosives-laden vehicle at the gate of the Green Village, a military base of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Qabil Bai area on Khwaja Rawash road, said commander of 101st Asmayee Police Zone, Lt. Gen. Mohammad Ayub Salangi.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News that a student and an Afghan guard at the military camp were among those killed in the detonation, he added.

According to witnesses, three consecutive explosions happened in the area after a suicide attacker entered the camp but officials only confirmed a single explosion.

However, a Pajhwok reporter at the scene said that there was another blast few minutes after Salangi briefed media regarding the incident.

Dr. Kabir Amiri, the head of Kabul hospital, confirmed receiving 16 injured victims.

Taliban took responsibility for the strike, their spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, saying they carried out a car-bomb attack at the entrance of the ISAF camp to allow other fighters to enter the base. He said their fighters were currently fighting with foreign soldiers inside the camp.

An ISAF statement said a small group of insurgents carried out an attack on a private compound this morning in Kabul. The attack was unsuccessful in killing any ISAF personnel but once again resulted in Afghan civilian casualties that included a number of wounded children.

"This is another desperate attack by the Taliban, but again another noteworthy performance by Afghan Security Forces for taking the lead in putting down another desperate attack by insurgents," said General Carsten Jacobson, ISAF spokesman.

"Another attack by the insurgency that resulted in the deaths of innocent Afghan civilians, with most of that being children from a nearby school," Jacobson added.

Afghan forces led a capable and quick response in containing and then killing all attackers, said the statement.

from Pajhwok
by Khwaja Basir Ahmad
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video by TOLONEWS:

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Four children killed following clashes in Zabul province

According to local authorities in south-eastern Zabul province at least 4 Afghan kids were killed following clashes between Afghan and NATO troops with the insurgents in this province.

The officials further added at least 3 other kids were also injured during the clashes which took place in Shahjoi district.

Deputy provincial governor Mohammad Jan Rasolyar the incident took place after armed insurgents attacked a group of NATO troops who were communicating with the tribal elders.

Mr. Rasolyar further added the children and kids who were at the scene of the incident were killed and injured during the clashes.

Dozens of local residents protested against the death of the children and closed the highway between Kabul and Kandahar province.

The protesters claimed NATO troops had shot the children and demonstrated against them, however, Mr. Rasolyar said investigations reports suggest that the children were killed in militants attack.

A spokesman for the Taliban group said 2 Afghan children were shot dead by NATO troops, and 2 NATO troops along with a Taliban fighter were also killed during the clashes.

from KHAAMA
By Ghanizada - Tue May 01, 6:33 pm

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Shabaab suicide bomber kills 3 members of Somali parliament

By Bill Roggio - May 1, 2012 - LWJ

A Shabaab suicide bomber killed three members of Somalia's parliament in an attack today at a hotel in Dusamareb, a city controlled by a militia that supports the government.

The suicide bomber detonated his vest as several members of parliament met at a cafe in a Dusamareb hotel, according to Reuters. The three MPs and another person were killed in the blast, and several more were wounded, said a spokesman for the Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama'a, a Sufi militia that controls the city and is backed by the government and Ethiopia.

Shabaab claimed credit for today's suicide attack and also claimed that Ethiopian and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama'a officials were killed in the blast.

Shabaab has carried out 10 suicide attacks in Somalia already this year [see list below]. The terror group's attacks have targeted Somali politicians and security personnel as well as Ethiopian and African Union forces. In the April 4 suicide attack at a theater in Mogadishu, the presidents of Somalia's Olympic committee and soccer federation, one of Prime Minister Ali Abdiweli's advisers, and a member of parliament were among 10 people killed. Prime Minister Abdeweli was present at the theater. And on March 14, four people were killed by a suicide bombing inside the presidential palace compound in Mogadishu.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/05/shabaab_suicide_bomb_5.php#ixzz1thQZKlHC

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May 02., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (May 2) — An Afghan led and coalition supported security force conducted an operation to capture a Taliban leader in Baghlan-e Jadid district, Baghlan province, today.
After the Afghan soldiers called for everyone to come out of the building, one armed insurgent remained inside with an AK-47. The security force entered the building and when the insurgent attempted to fire on them, the attacker was engaged and killed.

The security force seized multiple AK-47s, several magazines with ammunition, multiple grenades and multiple rocket-propelled grenades in the compound. Multiple additional insurgents were also detained as a result of this operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South
In Panjwa’i district, Kandahar province, an Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader during an operation today. The leader directed roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the district. During the operation, the security force detained multiple insurgents and confiscated bomb making materials.

An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to detain a Taliban leader in Nad ‘Ali district, Helmand province, today. The leader plans and coordinates roadside bombings, suicide attacks and other operations against Afghan and coalition security forces in Helmand province. He also attempts to implement Taliban law on Afghan civilians in Musa Qal’ah, Now Zad and Baghran districts. The security force detained several suspected insurgents as a result of this operation.

East
An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation in Gelan district, Ghazni province, today. The leader conducted roadside bomb attacks against Afghan civilians, Afghan National Security Forces and coalition troops along Highway 1. One additional insurgent was also detained.

In Muhammad Aghah district, Logar province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a Haqqani facilitator today. The facilitator provides weapons, ammunition and equipment to insurgents for attacks against Afghan officials, Afghan troops, and coalition troops in Kabul City. The security force detained multiple suspected insurgents as well as a manual for constructing improvised explosive devices.

An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a Haqqani facilitator in Sabari district, Khost province, today. The facilitator provides weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive device materials to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the province. The security force detained multiple suspected insurgents and seized several weapons and a grenade as a result of this operation.

Finally, in Ab Band district, Ghazni province, an Afghan and coalition security force discovered a weapons cache during a routine patrol yesterday. The cache consisted of approximately 2,035 pounds (925 kilograms) of homemade explosive materials and multiple improvised explosive device-making components. The security force destroyed the cache on-site without incident.

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Taliban militants attack NATO convoy, kill 3 in west Afghanistan

Afghan policemen stand near a burnt-out NATO fuel tanker in Panjwayi district in ‎Kandahar Province, April 6, 2012.‎

At least three people have been killed in a militant attack on a convoy carrying fuel for US-led forces in Afghanistan's western Farah Province, Press TV reports. 

Tue May 1, 2012 10:6AM GMT

The Taliban militants torched six NATO tankers, killing three Afghan security guards serving with a private security firm and injuring four others in the town of Bakwa late Monday, Afghan security officials said.

"Six tankers, transferring fuel to US-led foreign forces have been torched by armed Taliban militants," an Afghan security official told Press TV.

Private security firms in western Afghanistan are tasked with escorting the NATO fuel tankers in the country.

Several Taliban fighters were also killed and injured in the incident, but the exact figure of their casualties is not available yet, he said.

The highway linking Herat to the Delaram region has for long been an insecure route for convoys carrying fuel supplies for foreign forces in Afghanistan.

Despite the presence of nearly 130,000 American troops in Afghanistan, security and calm have never been restored in the Asian country since the 2001 US-led invasion as terror and militancy have become more rampant.

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