Al-Qaeda weapons expert killed in eastern Afghanistan

An Al-Qaeda Network weapons expert was killed following a joint military operation by Afghan and coalition security forces in eastern Paktika province of Afghanistan.

Afghan and coalition forces confirmed on Friday the death of an al-Qaida weapons expert during a security operation in Mata Khan district, Paktika province, Wednesday.

NATO-led International Security Assistance Force following a statement announced, “During the operation the security force positively identified Taqwa – also known as Eissa Khan – transporting weapons toward a populated area. After ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged Taqwa with a precision airstrike, killing him.”

The source further added, “As an al-Qaida weapons expert, Taqwa is suspected of directing multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, often using improvised explosive devices, and equipping insurgent and terrorist fighters with weapons, ammunition and explosives.”

Prior to his death, Taqwa was believed to be planning the abduction of several Afghan security force members, ISAF said following the statement adding that a post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was damaged and no civilians were harmed.

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

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - Sat Sep 15, 11:39 am

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Official ISAF release of Camp Bastion attack

Insurgent attack on Camp Bastion, Helmand province

2012-09-S-021 For Immediate Release KABUL, Afghanistan (Sept. 15, 2012) — Nearly 20 insurgents infiltrated the perimeter of Camp Bastion in Helmand province yesterday and attacked International Security Assistance Force personnel and facilities using small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and suicide improvised explosive device vests. The attack, which began shortly after 10 p.m., killed two ISAF service members, wounded several and caused damage to multiple aircraft and structures along the base’s flight line. ISAF forces reacted to the assault, returned fire and killed all but one of the known insurgents, defeating the attack. ISAF personnel wounded the remaining insurgent attacker, who is in ISAF custody and is being treated in a medical facility. Camp Bastion is currently secure. ISAF personnel cleared the large base of attackers early this morning. ISAF is in the process of fully assessing damages to aircraft and structures on the airfield. However, ISAF has determined that despite the damage, there will be no impact to ground or air operations from Camp Bastion. An investigation is ongoing.

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Gunmen attack intelligence headquarters in Yemen's Aden

ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- A group of unknown gunmen attacked a compound of Yemen's intelligence agency in the southern port city of Aden on Friday, sparking a short shootout with security forces that left one military vehicle in flames, a police officer told Xinhua.

The unidentified gunmen unleashed an armed attacked on the headquarters of military intelligence agency in the Tawahi neighborhood in Aden, triggering a short gunfight with security forces in the city, the local police officer said on condition of anonymity.

"Masked attackers armed with automatic rifles rained the building of the intelligence services with heavy gunshots and random shooting," the police officer said.

"Security reinforcements arrived... the attackers were finally pushed back, leaving one military vehicle in flames," he added.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but security sources accused militants of the Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot, who have waged a bloody insurgency against the government forces for the past two years.

Last month, an al-Qaida suicide bomber detonated his booby- trapped car near the headquarters of military intelligence agency in Aden, leaving about 19 army soldiers killed and 16 others wounded.

A string of high-level assassinations and suicide bombings struck Yemen's southern regions over the past two months, showing that al-Qaida militants have retained the capacity to attack despite that Yemen's military operations claimed victory in routing them out of their strongholds in the south.

On June 20, Yemen's military officials announced the seizing of al-Qaida's last bastion in the country's troubled south following the army's offensive backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

However, local military and anti-terrorism experts said that the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch is still a major threat to the impoverished Arab country despite being driven out from its main southern bastions by U.S.-backed military assault.

from XINHUA
2012-09-15 06:12:37

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Sep. 15., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces confirmed yesterday the death of an al-Qaida weapons expert during a security operation in Mata Khan district, Paktika province, Wednesday.

During the operation the security force positively identified Taqwa – also known as Eissa Khan – transporting weapons toward a populated area. After ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged Taqwa with a precision airstrike, killing him.

As an al-Qaida weapons expert, Taqwa is suspected of directing multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, often using improvised explosive devices, and equipping insurgent and terrorist fighters with weapons, ammunition and explosives.

Prior to his death, Taqwa was believed to be planning the abduction of several Afghan security force members.

A post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was damaged and no civilians were harmed.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban leader resulting in the death of one armed insurgent in Khanabad district, Kunduz province, today. As the security force approached the Taliban leader’s suspected location, an armed insurgent maneuvered on the Afghan and coalition troops. The security force positively identified the lethal threat and engaged, killing the armed insurgent. No civilians were harmed during the operation. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents and seized one assault rifle as a result of this operation.

South
Afghan Special Police and coalition forces discovered what appeared to be an IED factory and seized a large cache of lethal aid during a search operation in northern Washer district, Helmand province yesterday. The combined force recovered eight pressure plate IEDs, explosive charges, battery packs, ammunition and a bag of narcotics during the operation. The force also found an IED dug into the ground and a mortar pit in the same location. During the mission, the partnered force was briefly engaged by enemy fire but successfully pushed back the attacking insurgents and did not sustain any casualties.

East
An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban attack cell leader in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, today. The arrested leader is believed to be responsible for the transportation of weapons, ammunition and insurgent fighters to conduct attacks throughout Laghman and Nangarhar provinces. Prior to his arrest, the Taliban leader was suspected of planning attacks on Afghan security checkpoints. The security force also detained several other suspected insurgents and seized multiple firearms and small-arms ammunition during the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban forger in Jalalabad district, Nangarhar province, today. The arrested forger is suspected of providing fake documents and identification cards to Taliban insurgents attempting to infiltrate the Afghan government and security forces. The security force also detained one suspected insurgent as a result of this operation.

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Sep. 15., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed three insurgents, detained three, located a weapons cache and cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Sept. 14.

Ghazni Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs, one in Qarah Bagh District and one in Gelan District.

Khowst Province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Sperah District. The cache contained items being used to construct IEDs.

Laghman Province
A coalition airstrike killed three insurgents in Alingar District in response to an imminent threat towards Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces.

Logar Province
Afghan National Police and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Muhammad Aghah District.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained three insurgents during an engagement in Pul-E Alam District. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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Attack on base in Afghanistan kills 2 Marines, destroys 2 jets

Two Marines were killed and several more injured when Afghan militants armed with rocket propelled grenades and small arms breached the perimeter of the main U.S. Marine base in southern Afghanistan, following a rocket and mortar attack on the base that is shared with British forces.

Army Maj. Martyn Crighton, a spokesman at International Security Assistance Force's Joint Command, said the attack on Camp Bastion/ Camp Leatherneck may still be ongoing. At least two were killed and a number were wounded. 16 Taliban were killed in the attack.

The base took indirect and small arms fire, causing major damage to buildings, an aircraft hangar and several military jets. Two of the eight Harrier jets at the base were damaged or destroyed, a US military source tells Fox News.

The attack occurred on the same base where a burning man, largely assumed to be an Afghan suicide bomber targeted the plane of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in March.

The base is a major military facility in the war-ravaged nation's Helmand province.

Britain's Prince Harry is stationed at the base with his Apache helicopter unit.

 

This facility is often subject to indirect fire, but officials in Afghanistan say the damage that has resulted is far more severe than normal. The attacks came during a period of intense protests and violence elsewhere in the Middle East.

Fox News has learned that the attack by armed militants on the main US marine base in southern Afghanistan was larger and more sophisticated than first reported.

The attack occurred on the same base where a burning man, largely assumed to be an Afghan suicide bomber targeted the plane of the Defense Secretary Leon Panetta back in mid-March. Since then security at the base was not increased and responsibility for securing the compound, known as Camp Bastion/Leatherneck was transitioned to joint control with Afghan security forces in spite of a recent spate of “insider attacks” carried out by Afghans who NATO forces had trained or who had permission to be on U.S. bases.

The attackers managed to breach the airport perimeter with small arms gunfire. Rockets or mortars were initially fired at the base. An aircraft hangar was set on fire and 2 of the  8 total Harrier jets at the base were damaged or destroyed, according to US military sources. “Our crash fire rescue crews did a heroic job of containing a hangar fire,” according to one military spokesman.

Two U.S. Marines were killed, several injured in the attack on the base where Britain’s Prince Harry is stationed with his Apache helicopter unit. Prince Harry, known to his unit as Captain Wales, recently arrived at Camp Bastion, according to information released last week by Buckingham Palace. The Taliban issued statements threatening to kidnap or kill the prince, whose birthday is Sept. 15. Major General Charles Gurganus is the Marine General who is in charge of the base and its security.

from FOXNEWS
Published September 15, 2012
Fox News' Justin Fishel and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

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