Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Foreign suicide bombers detained in Nangarhar province

Jalalabad District is located in the north-wes...
Districts of Nangarhar Province. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Afghan Intelligence (National Directorate for Security) arrested two Pakistani suspected suicide bombers in eastern Nangarhar province.

A spokesman for the Afghan National Directorate for Security Lotfullah Mashal following a press conference on Tuesday said the two suicide bombers were looking to carry out suicide bomb blast at Marco Market in Ghani Khel district.

Mr. Mashal further added Afghan intelligence forces detained the two suicide bombers based on intelligence report.

The two suicide bombers were recognized as Adnan and Sohail Khan and were detained along with suicide vests, Mashal said adding that the two individuals are residents of Momand Agency in tribal regions of Pakistan.

Lotfullah Mashal Afghan NDS spokesman also said the suicide bombing plot was made by a Pakistani militant leader Qari Abdul Wali.

from KHAAMA
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11 al-Qaida militants, 12 soldiers killed in fighting in Yemen's south

ADEN, Yemen, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A total of 11 al-Qaida militants and 12 government soldiers were killed during fresh battles in Yemen's southern province of Abyan on Monday, a military official said.

The fierce battles erupted following an attack launched by al- Qaida militants against an army base in Bajdar, north of Zinjibar, the provincial capital city of Abyan, leaving at least 11 insurgents and 12 soldiers killed, the local military official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

An army barrack of the 201st Armored Brigade in Zinjibar's suburbs was attacked by dozens of al-Qaida fighters, the official said, adding that soldiers of the army barrack confronted the attackers in a three-hour-long battle.

Sources close to the al-Qaida group told Xinhua anonymously that the fighters of the terrorist group "raided an army base in Zinjibar and some weapons depots." "Heavy weapons, including anti- aircrafts arms, were seized by our fighters after the successful operation that came in response to the army all-out attack," the sources said.

Earlier in the day, the al-Qaida launched a suicide bombing attack against a military parade in Yemen's capital of Sanaa, leaving at least 80 soldiers killed and more than 200 others injured, according to medical officials.

The Yemeni armed forces and pro-government tribal militia launched all-out attacks against strongholds of the al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula in Abyan from last week with the help of U.S. military experts.

Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, who took office in February, pledged that large-scale attacks will continue to strike al-Qaida bastions "until eradicate their presence in every village. "

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May 22., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Evening Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Haqqani facilitator during an operation in Bak district, Khost province, May 22.

The facilitator supplied weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition troops throughout the district.

The security force also detained several additional insurgents as a result of this operation.

South

A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered an improvised explosive device production facility in Kajaki district, Helmand province, Friday. The facility contained 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of home-made explosives, three anti-personnel mines, eight detonators, and one rocket-propelled grenade. At the same facility, the combined force also discovered a cache of drugs that included 11 kilograms (24 pounds) of wet opium and 910 kilograms (2,002 pounds) of poppy seed. All the narcotics, explosives and IED components were destroyed in place.

A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a weapons cache in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, May 22. The cache consisted of approximately 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of home-made explosives, multiple pressure plate detonation devices, and various improvised explosive device electronic making components. Security forces destroyed the cache on site.

East

A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered an explosives cache in Musa Khel district, Khost province, May 22. The cache consisted of approximately 680 kilograms (1500 pounds) of home-made explosives. Security forces destroyed the cache on site without incident.
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Five family members killed and four more wounded in two Baquba blasts

ERBIL, May 22 (AKnews) - Five family members were killed and four others were injured when two al-Sahua houses blew up in Baquba today.

Head of the security committee in Baquba Council Qahtan Jasim said unknown armed men detonated one bomb each in front of two houses of al-Sahua members in al-Katun neighborhood.

Jasim said three family members were killed and two more were injured in the first house.

Two family members were killed and two more were wounded in the second house.

Al-Katun district witnessed four bomb blasts early this morning, but no casualties were reported.

from aknews
By Mahmoud al-Juboury
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3 armed insurgents killed, 1 wounded and 8 others arrested by ANP



Publish Date: May 22, 2012
Three armed insurgents killed, one wounded and eight others arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:
During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched 10 joint clearance operations in Faryab, Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Ghazni and Farah provinces.

As a result of these operations, three armed insurgents were killed, one wounded and eight others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated one rocket launcher, five PKM machine guns, nine different types of weapons, six radio handsets, 110 different types of mines, seven hand grenades, 66 kilograms of opium, 50 kilograms of explosive materials, 12 mine batteries, one motorbike and one vehicle.

During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused 11 anti-vehicle mines as a result of security operation in the Barakzai region, Qalat City capital of Zabul province.

Additionally, Afghan National Police discovered and defused an anti-vehicle mine in the Haji Wazir region, Khashroad District of Nimroz provionce.

Afghan National Police are working diligently with local leaders and the public to prevent these types of acts from killing and wounding innocent civilians and security forces.
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7 Afghan soldiers killed following militants attacks

At least 7 Afghan national army soldiers were killed and 4 others were injured following militants attack in eastern and south-eastern regions of the country.

Afghan defense ministry following a statement on Tuesday announced 11 Afghan national army soldiers were killed or injured following militants attack and roadside bomb explosions at Paktia, Paktika, Maidan Wardak and Zabul provincesof Afghanistan.

The source further added Afghan national army soldiers seized some weapons, ammunitions and explosives including 25 improvised explosive device during the operations.

In the meantime Afghan Interior Ministry following a statement announced at least 3 Taliban militants were killed and another militant was injured following military operations at Faryab, Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Ghazni and Farah provinces of Afghanistan.

Afghan interior ministry officials following the statement also said at least 8 Taliban militants were detained during the operations.

Anti-government armed militant groups yet to comment regarding the reports.

from KHAAMA
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R.I.P. - Spc. Samuel T. Watts

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Spc. Samuel T. Watts, 20, of Wheaton, Ill., died May 19, in Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained April 25, in Zharay, Afghanistan, when he was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.

            Watts was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

            For more information related to this release, the media may contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs at 910-432-0661/0662 or 910-587-0217.

---


Even as a freshman at Wheaton North High School, Samuel Watts had his heart set on joining the military.

"He just wanted to serve," said his guidance counselor, Wendy Biggs. "He was just really proud of our country. He just wanted to help people, and that was the way he felt he could best help."

Army Spc. Samuel Watts, 20, died Saturday, May 19, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, nearly a month after being injured by an improvised explosive device during his first deployment to Afghanistan, according to the public affairs office of the 82nd Airborne Division.
"Sam was a guy you wanted on your team; he was a fighter," Capt. Mike Kelvington, Bravo Company commander with the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment said in a written statement. "From being an expert on the M240 range with his assigned weapon to defying the odds when all the doctors said he shouldn't have lived this long, he fought all the way to the end."

Spc. Watts' work ethic and character were evident to Scott Lilly when Lilly coached the teen on the Wheaton North freshman volleyball team.

"Nothing ever bothered him," Lilly said. "He was just great to have around because everybody seemed to like him."

Later in high school, Spc. Watts attended the fire science and paramedic program at the Technology Center of DuPage, according to Biggs.

He joined the Army in July 2010, shortly after high school graduation, and attended airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga., before being deployed to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division
In the Zhari district of Kandahar province, Spc. Watts was injured April 25 by an IED blast, the Army said.

Spc. Watts was awarded a Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, among other ribbons and badges, for his service, the Army said.

"This was a kid who was going to serve his country, and no matter what he did, whether paramedic or fireman, he was going to be a good adult and he would have been a good neighbor — somebody you wanted to have in your community," Biggs said.

Information on family and services was not immediately available.
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Somalia: Four Kenyan Soldiers Wounded in Mandera Landmine Blast

Map showing the distribution of the Afro-Asiat...
Map showing the distribution of the Afro-Asiatic Somali language in the Horn of Africa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Nairobi Four Kenyan soldiers were wounded Monday when a landmine exploded beneath their vehicle in the northeastern Mandera region bordering war-torn Somalia, police said.

"Officers have been injured, we have sent a team to investigate," regional police chief Leo Nyongesa said.

"Four officers have been injured, the tanker passed over a landmine," said a police official who was not authorised to speak to reporters.

It was not immediately clear whether the explosion had been triggered by a remote device, nor who was responsible for the blast.

Last month the hardline Shebab warned Kenyaof revenge attacks for sending tanks and troops into Somalia in October.

Kenya has been hit by a series of grenade attacks and explosions, mostly in Nairobi and in northern towns and camps housing Somali refugees close to the border.

Earlier this month attackers launched a deadly grenade attack on a restaurant in the port city of Mombasa.

from allAfrica
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R.I.P. - Sgt. Michael J. Knapp, Sgt. Jabraun S. Knox

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died May 18, in Asadabad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an indirect fire.  They were assigned to the 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

            Killed were:

            Sgt. Michael J. Knapp, 28, of Overland Park, Kan., and

            Sgt. Jabraun S. Knox, 23, of Fort Wayne, Ind.

            For more information the media may contact Joint Base Lewis-McChord Public Affairs Office at 253-967-0152 or 0148.

---

A highly decorated Army Sergeant from Overland Park was among two soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan Friday.  The Pentagon has notified the relatives, and released the names of Sergeant Michael Knapp, 28, of Overland Park, and Sergeant Jabraun Knox, 23, of Auburn, Ind.

Defense Department officials say the pair died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with indirect fire. Both Soldiers were assigned to 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

“On behalf of the Soldiers and Family members of the 17th Fires Brigade, I express our deepest condolences to the families of Sgt. Michael J.Knapp and Sgt. Jabraun S. Knox,” said Col. Kenneth L. Kamper, 17th Fires Brigade Commander. “Their actions and sacrifices for their unit and mission will always be remembered. They were sons, husbands, fathers and Soldiers who contributed immeasurably to their families, communities, our unit and the nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families."

Sgt. Michael J.Knapp
 According to unit records, Sgt. Knapp entered military service in October 2003.  He served one overseas deployment to Kosovo from January 2005 through January 2006; and two deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. Knapp attended Advanced Individual Training in Military Occupational Specialty 13B (Cannon Crew Member) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Sgt. Knapp reported to Joint Base Lewis-McChord on March 10, 2010. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade.
He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in October 2011. This was his first deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
His awards and decorations include Army Commendation Medal (two awards), Army Achievement Medal (two awards), Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal w/Bronze Service Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal,  Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (three awards), Armed Forces Reserve Medal L/W M device (two awards), NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge with Mechanic, Marksmanship Qualification Badge – Expert with Field Artillery.



Sgt. Jabraun S. Knox
 According to unit records, Sgt. Knox entered the Army in January 2009 at Indianapolis, Indiana.
He reported to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for initial Army training and then reported to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for Advanced Individual Training in Military Occupational Specialty 13B (Cannon Crew Member).
Upon completion of AIT Sgt. Knox reported to Joint Base Lewis-McChord on June 17, 2009.  He deployed with 1/377 FA Regt. in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from July 2009 through May 2010. The unit deployed to Afghanistan in October 2011. This was his first deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
His awards and decorations include Army Achievement medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (two awards), Marksmanship Qualification Badge – Expert with Field Artillery.
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