R.I.P. - Spc. Krystal M. Fitts

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

            Spc. Krystal M. Fitts, 26, of Houston, Texas, died July 17 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered from indirect fire.  She was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

            For more information, the media may contact the 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs at 910-432-0661 or 910-813-3891.

---

Spc. Krystal M. Fitts, age 26, of Houston, Texas, died on July 17, 2012, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered from indirect fire.

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

She joined the Army in 2009 as a chemical operations specialist. She trained at Fort Jackson, Fort Leonard Wood, and Fort Benning, before coming to Fort Bragg in May of 2010.

Military officials stated that Krystal filled a critical role in her unit and took on duties well beyond the scope of her training. She is also described as motivated, tenacious and dedicated.

Krystal had learned the Pashtu language to help soldiers communicate with local Afghans.

Her awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist Badge.

Krystal is survived by many loving friends and relatives.

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DOD Statement on Colorado Shooting Incident

IMMEDIATE RELEASE     No. 602-12

July 20, 2012

Statement on Colorado Shooting Incident

            The Department of Defense is deeply saddened by the news of the tragic incident at the Aurora Mall Movie Theater in Aurora, Colo.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families of those impacted by this event.

            One sailor was injured and one, known to have been at the theatre that evening, is currently unaccounted for.  Two airmen were injured in the incident.  The Navy and the Air Force are working with the families of these service members to ensure they have the care and attention they need.

            We can also confirm that the alleged gunman in this incident, James Holmes, is not a past or current member of any branch or component of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Related articles

• Statement on Colorado Shooting Incident (defense.gov)

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R.I.P. - Cpl. Joshua R. Ashley

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

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

            Cpl. Joshua R. Ashley, 23, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., died July 19 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

            For more information media may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs Office at 910-451-7200.

---

from dailybulletin:

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Created:   07/19/2012 05:09:24 PM PDT
Family and friends are grieving for Marine Cpl. Joshua R. Ashley, of Rancho Cucamonga who was killed in Afghanistan on Thursday.

John Ashley, Joshua's father, said his son was killed by hostile enemy action - the victim of an IED, or an improvised explosive device.

"Josh died a hero, protecting this nation," John Ashley said on Thursday.

A makeshift memorial has been set up at Ashley's military banner on the northeast corner of Haven Avenue and Arrow Route. Family and friends will honor Ashley at a candlelight vigil tonight at 10 p.m. at the banner site.

Plans are ongoing for memorial service, which will likely take place about a week from next Monday, according to John Ashley.

"Josh was a very independent person," said John Ashley. "When he would set his sights on something, whether it was for work or in the Marines, whatever he went after, he got. Josh always strived to be the top and number one in his class."

Ashley, who had aspirations to join law enforcement as a K-9 handler, was a Military Police officer with the II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, and was selected to be a dog handler for special operations. Ashley was with his military dog Sirius, a 4-year-old male German Shepherd when he was killed. John Ashley said Sirius is accounted for and survived the incident.

John Ashley said his son was killed during a night operation in Helmand Province. Stephen Demuth, 23, a close friend of Ashley's, was among friends who were at a candlelight vigil on Thursday night.

"Since he joined, he always wanted to go to Afghanistan and he wanted to be a canine handler," Demuth said. "He wanted to go to Afghanistan and he wanted to serve his country, so he met his goals of becoming a canine handler. He served overseas, but unfortunately, he payed the ultimate sacrifice."

Chelsea Kelley, a close friend of Ashley's plans to attend the candlelight vigil tonight. The friends attended all of their high school dances
together.

"It's not real yet. It's hard," Kelley said of losing her friend. "He was the sweetest person I ever met. He put everyone else before himself." Ashley enlisted in the Marines in 2008 after graduating from Etiwanda High School in 2007. He lettered all four years of high school in water polo and swimming, and was captain of the water polo team.

After boot camp, Ashley was deployed to Okinawa, Japan, from 2009 to 2011, and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from 2011 to when he was deployed to Afghanistan in May of this year. Ashley was friends with Etiwanda High School graduate and fellow Marine Cpl. Robby Reyes, who died during a military training exercise in Morocco on April 11.

Rancho Cucamonga "has taken a big hit," John Ashley said.

"These were the good kids that didn't get into trouble, that played sports in high school and stayed out of trouble," John Ashley said. "These were the kids that had a good head on their shoulders and were going places."

Ashley is also survived by his mother Tammie Ashley, and brothers John Ashley and Jordan Ashley.

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Kenya: Al Shabaab 'Threaten to Hit During Ramadhan'

Photo: Gideon Maundu/Nation

Muslims in Mombasa say prayers for Eid.

Nairobi — Police have warned of fresh terror threats from Al Shabaab militants who have warned of massive destruction in Kenya during Ramadhan.

Nairobi Provincial Police chief Anthony Kibuchi said they had received intelligence reports that the terrorists plan to hit their targets during the Holy Month of Ramadhan.

"Al Shabaab terrorists have issued threats that they will carry out massive destruction during the month of Ramadhan," Kibuchi said and urged the public to remain vigilant.

"Let everybody be extra alert," he added.

A police source told us "security has been intensified mainly in Nairobi, Mombasa and border towns where the terrorists are targeting."

Security has been intensified in government installations and public places, including hotels, the source added.

The group has in the past months threatened to bring down Kenya's "tall glass buildings" after Kenyan troops crossed into Somalia last October following a spate of attacks and abductions in its territory that it blamed on the militants.

The threats were first issued in May by a US-based private intelligence firm IntelCenter, which reported that the militant group had warned Kenyans that the country "will weep two weeks from now."

The warning came two weeks after the May 28 attack on a Nairobi building housing clothing retail stores that killed one person and injured more than 30 others.

Al-Shabaab insurgents have launched a spate of attacks in Kenya, mainly using grenades and it is believed that these are building up to a larger attack.

On Wednesday, at least four people were wounded in twin grenade attacks in Wajir.

The latest attack by the Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab occurred at a restaurant and a shop in the town. North Eastern Provincial police Chief Philip Tuimur said no suspect has been arrested.

Tuimur said more officers had been deployed to patrol the region to keep the attackers away.

Security forces have become increasingly targeted by the terrorists, mainly at the border towns. Some of the attacks have also occurred in Nairobi.

Nairobi, Mombasa and towns in North Eastern Province have suffered deadly attacks since late last year, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.

The latest deadly attack occurred in Garissa three weeks ago when suspected militants opened fire and hurled grenades inside two churches, killing 18 people.

More than 60 others were wounded in the attacks.

On Monday, a police officer was killed and his colleague wounded when they were ambushed by people believed to be Al Shabaab militants in Lagdera.

The attack occurred when their vehicle was sprayed with bullets.

Just last week, two police officers were shot and seriously wounded in Mandera in another attack blamed on Al Shabaab militiamen.

The officers who were in a group of three were heading back to Garissa when the militants attacked them in Arabia area, a few kilometers from the border with Somalia.

from allAfrica - CapitalFM
By Bernard Momanyi, 20 July 2012

Related articles

• Kenya: Al Shabaab 'Threaten to Hit During Ramadhan' (allafrica.com)

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R.I.P. - Sgt. Daniel A. Rodriguez, Sgt. Jose J. Reyes

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

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

            They died July 18, in Ghazni City, Afghanistan, when their vehicle was struck by an enemy improvised explosive device.  The soldiers were assigned to the 548th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

            Killed were:

            Sgt. Daniel A. Rodriguez, 28, of Baltimore, Md., and

            Sgt. Jose J. Reyes, 24, San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico.

            For more information pertaining to this release, please contact the 10th Mountain Division public affairs at 315-772-8286.

---

Two 10th Mountain Division Soldiers were killed in Ghanzi City, Afghanistan, Wednesday of wounds sustained when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED), Fort Drum officials said in a statement Thursday night.

The two were assigned to the 110th Transportation Company, 548th Combat Sustainment Support
Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade.

Killed were:

- Sergeant Daniel A. Rodriguez, age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland.  He was a heavy vehicle driver, and a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Rodriguez joined the Army in July 2002. After training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he was assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska and Fort Hood, Texas.

He arrived at Fort Drum in March 2010. Rodriguez deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from October 2003 to October 2004.

He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from November 2005 to November 2006 and June 2008 to June 2009. He deployed with his unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in April 2012.

Rodriguez's awards and decorations include two Purple Hearts, the Army Commendation Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, three Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Non Commissioned Officers
Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Driver and Mechanic Badge and the Basic Marksman Qualification Badge.

Rodriguez is survived by his wife, three children and mother.

- Sergeant Jose J. Reyes, age 24, of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. He was a heavy vehicle driver.

Reyes joined the Army in February 2010. After training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he arrived at Fort Drum in May 2010 and deployed with his unit in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom in April 2012.

Reyes' awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Non Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, and five Certificates of Achievements.

Reyes is survived by his wife, two children, mother and father.

Related articles

• RIP SGT Daniel A Rodriguez, SGT Jose J Reyes (waronterrornews.typepad.com)

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Roadside bomb kills 5 Afghan police

TRINKOT, Afghanistan, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Five police were killed as a roadside bomb struck a police van in Uruzgan province 370 km south of capital Kabul, spokesman for provincial administration Abdullah Humat said Friday.

"A mine planted by militants on a road in Sarab district struck a police vehicle late Thursday night as a result five policemen including the police chief of Sarab district were martyred," Humat told Xinhua.

He also blamed Taliban militants for planting the mine, saying Taliban insurgents by organizing roadside bombs and other subversive activities want to intimidate both locals and government employees.

However, Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to make comment.

from XINHUA
2012-07-20 13:26:19

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2 security members killed, 6 wounded in Iraq's attacks

BAGHDAD, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Two security members were killed and six others wounded Thursday in separate bomb and gunfire attacks in central and northern Iraq, the police said.

In the Iraqi capital, a roadside bomb struck an Iraqi army patrol in Baghdad's northern district of Adhamiyah, killing one soldier and injuring three others, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

In a separate incident, a police officer was injured when gunmen using silenced weapons attacked his car while driving in Baiyaa district in southwestern Baghdad, the source said.

In northern Iraq, a member of the Kurdish security force, named Peshmerga, was killed and two others injured when a sticky bomb attached to their car went off in the central part of the city of Kirkuk, some 250 km north of Baghdad, a provincial police source anonymously told Xinhua.

The ethnically mix province of Kirkuk and its capital Kirkuk City are part of the disputed areas between the Kurds and both Arabs and Turkomans.

Violence in Iraq has ebbed from its climax in 2006 and 2007, when sectarian conflicts pushed the country to the brink of a civil war, but tensions and sporadic shootings and bombings are still seen across the country.

from XINHUA
2012-07-20 07:30:45

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July 20., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force conducted a security operation to find the Haqqani leader Abdul Wali in Sabari district, Khost province, yesterday.

During the operation, the Afghan and coalition security force conducted a precision airstrike. After the airstrike, during the follow-on assessment, the security force confirmed Abdul Wali and one other insurgent had been killed in the strike. The follow-on assessment also confirmed the airstrike had not injured any civilians or damaged any civilian property.

Abdul Wali led a Haqqani cell that specialized in the production of improvised explosive devices that the cell used in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region. He was also responsible for coordinating the shipment and distribution of explosive materials to insurgents throughout the district.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) leader in Ishkamish district, Takhar province, today. The IMU leader controls a group of insurgents responsible for attacks throughout Kunduz province. The security force also seized several improvised explosive device components as a result of this operation.

South

An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, detained several suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in Shah Wali Kot district, Kandahar province, today. The leader is a weapons supplier who distributes rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices to Taliban insurgents throughout the region. The operation was completed without injuring civilians.

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July 19., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces killed seven insurgents, detained two and cleared five improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, July 19.

Kunar Province
Afghan National Police soldiers and coalition forces killed four insurgents during a small arms engagement in Ghaziabad District.

Laghman Province
A coalition airstrike killed three insurgents in Mehtar Lam District in response to Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces receiving small arms fire.

Logar Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Baraki Barak District.

Nangarhar Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs in Pachir Wa Agam District.

Paktika Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sharan District.

Paktiya Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained an insurgent who was found possessing multiple small arms in Gardez District. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Zurmat District.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained a known IED emplacer in Zurmat District. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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Two killed in Thai south as Ramadan starts

Locator map of Narathiwat Province, Thailand (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

NARATHIWAT: Two civilians were killed and four wounded in bomb and shooting attacks in southern Thailand, a military spokesman said Friday, as the region marked the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

A 25-year-old male security guard was shot dead by gunmen in Pattani province on Thursday morning, while a 39-year-old man was killed later in a roadside bomb attack in neighbouring Yala, which also left one person with shrapnel injuries.

A car bomb ripped through a shopping street early Friday in the small town of Sungai Kolok, in the southernmost province of Narathiwat which borders Malaysia, wounding three people and destroying several shops.

“Three people were wounded but none is serious,” Colonel Pramote Prom-in, army spokesman for the volatile region, told AFP.

The explosives had been packed inside pick-up truck parked on the street and triggered as people gathered at a morning market, he added.

Authorities had warned that militants were likely to attempt a large-scale attack ahead of Ramadan.

A shadowy insurgency, without clearly stated aims, has raged in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces, Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, since 2004.

Daily bomb or gun attacks have targeted both soldiers and civilians, Buddhists and Muslims, claiming more than 5,000 lives in eight years.

A state of emergency is in force in the worst-affected parts of the region, which rights campaigners say in effect gives the tens of thousands of military troops based in the area legal immunity and fuels rights abuses.

from DAWN

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Four injured in firing in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, July 20 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were injured when some unidentified militants fired at shops near paramilitary forces' headquarters in Pakistan's northwest city of Peshawar on Friday morning, local media reported.

The incident happened at about 11:30 a.m. (local time) when two unknown gunmen riding a motorbike opened fire at grocery shops at Frontier road of Peshawar, the capital city of Pakistan's northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The attackers escaped the scene after the firing, according to the report by local Urdu TV channel Express.

The injured have been shifted to hospital. According to hospital sources, two of the injured people are in critical condition.

No group claimed responsibility for the blast yet.

In another incident, a blast took place in Mattani area of Peshawar but no causality was reported in the explosion.

Early Friday morning, a major attack was foiled when a 14- kilogram bomb, planted near a school building was found and defused by bomb disposal squad.

from XINHUA
2012-07-20 15:23:46

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Kenya: Four Hurt in Twin Wajir Grenade Attacks

Nairobi — At least four people were wounded in twin grenade attacks in Wajir on Wednesday night.

The latest attack by the Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab occurred at a restaurant and a shop in the town.

"We are investigating the incident. No suspect has been arrested so far, but we are told they threw the grenades and fled," North Eastern Provincial police Chief Philip Tuimur said.

Tuimur said more officers had been deployed to patrol the region to keep the attackers away.

Security forces have become increasingly targeted by the terrorists, mainly at the border towns. Some of the attacks have also occurred in Nairobi.

Nairobi Provincial Police commander Anthony Kibuchi has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and volunteer any information to authorities.

"Al Shabaab is still issuing threats to cause massive destruction in the city; let us remain extra vigilant," Kibuchi said.

Nairobi, Mombasa and towns in North Eastern Province have suffered deadly attacks since late last year, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.

The latest deadly attack occurred in Garissa three weeks ago when suspected militants opened fire and hurled grenades inside two churches, killing 18 people.

More than 60 others were wounded in the attacks.

On Monday, a police officer was killed and his colleague wounded when they were ambushed by people believed to be Al Shabaab militants in Lagdera.

The attack occurred when their vehicle was sprayed with bullets.

Just last week, two police officers were shot and seriously wounded in Mandera in another attack blamed on Al Shabaab militiamen.

The officers who were in a group of three were heading back to Garissa when the militants attacked them in Arabia area, a few kilometres from the border with Somalia.

from allAfrica - CapitalFM
By Bernard Momanyi, 19 July 2012

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Three killed as gunmen unleash terror on Ramadan eve in Nigeria's Kano State

ABUJA, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and one other person sustained a serious injury on Thursday night when gunmen unleashed terror in Nigeria's northern Kano State, a few hours to the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar.

State police spokesperson Rilwan Mohammed confirmed the killing to reporters, saying two gunmen riding on a motorcycle shot indiscriminately at people in Sharada area of Kano, near the popular Freedom Radio in the state.

"Bodies of the deceased have been deposited in a morgue, while the injured have been taken to the hospital," said the police spokesperson, adding security men have taken over the area.

Other security sources in the state said residents have fled the area to avoid further bloody attacks.

"The men opened fire in a public place and killed some of the people playing cards in the area," a security agent told Xinhua, while wondering why anyone would choose to kill on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar.

Citizens of Nigeria's northern states are predominantly Muslims.

No group or individuals have so far claimed responsibility for the attacks, although Islamic insurgents had been on rampage in the northern state in recent times.

from XINHUA
2012-07-20 05:40:51

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