Malian rebels flee after day-long air bombardments

photo from facebook/INFOSDEFENSE.COM - Opération Serval - Mali

BAMAKO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sunday's aerial bombardments by the French army have forced rebels in Mali's northern town of Gao and its environs to flee, a well placed military source said.
The air raids were carried out by four French Rafale fighter jets. Well placed sources told Xinhua that the training grounds, the infrastructure and the logistical bases used by rebels were destroyed.

In the coming days, the Malian ground forces supported by troops from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are expected to comb the area to eliminate the remaining pockets of resistance.

A number of eyewitnesses told Xinhua on phone that following bombardments by four fighter jets in Gao, the rebels fled from the region's small town of Askia. The youths in Gao were "celebrating" in town, promising to support the army to chase away the rebels from the area.

Other eyewitnesses told Xinhua that fear was spreading in Timbuktu and Kidal, the two other northern towns occupied by rebels, that the flare could expand further soon.

On Sunday, the rebels were seen surrounding the local airport in Timbuktu, while efforts to get information from Kidal bore no fruit as the region's communication channels were cut off from the rest of the world.

Fierce fighting erupted between rebels and the Malian army in the central town of Konna. On Friday, France confirmed the intervention of its troops to stop rebels from advancing towards the government-held South.

from XINHUA
2013-01-14 19:09:29
Editor: Lu Hui

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3 rebels killed in Nangarhar, 2 held in Khost

(file photo)

JALALABAD/ KHOST CITY (PAN): Three militants were killed and as many others wounded during a security operation by Afghan forces in the Sherzad district of eastern Nangarhar province, an official said on Monday.

The military operation was conducted in the Sudakhel area of the district, the provincial governor’s spokesman, Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

One notorious militant commander, Mullah Haqiq, also known as Sur Gul, was among the dead. Four Kalashnikovs, 18 magazines, hand grenades and walkie-talkies were seized by security forces, he added.

In a separate incident, two suicide bombers were captured in southeastern Khost province, bordering Pakistan’s tribal region of Kurram. Khost intelligence director, Abdul Wasi Ahmadzai, said the detainees were Ghazni residents and had arrived there from Miranshah.

The arrested men had confessed to being tasked with striking certain targets, but were captured before they could execute their plans, Ahmadzai said. Suicide vests were recovered from them, the intelligence director said.

from Pajhwok
By Mahbob Shah Mahbob & Hidayatullah Khosti
Jan 14, 2013 - 15:46

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In Several Joint Clearance Operations, Six Armed Taliban Killed (14.Jan.2013.)

Publish Date: Jan 14, 2013

In Several Joint Clearance Operations, Six Armed Taliban Killed

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched eight joint clearance operations in Nangarhar, Baghlan, Balkh, Kandahar, Maidan Wardak and Helmand provinces.

As a result of these operations, six armed Taliban were killed and seven others were arrested by Afghan National Security Forces.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated some amount of light and heavy rounds ammunitions.

During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused one anti-vehicle mine and seven mortars which were placed by the enemies of peace and stability for destructive activities in Zabul and Khost provinces.

 

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained two suspects accused of theft in the 4th District of Kabul-City yesterday.

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3 Afghan soldiers killed, 2 injured in militants attacks

At least five Afghan soldiers were killed or injured following roadside improvised explosive device blast and militants attacks during the past 24 hours, Afghan defense officials announced.
According to a statement released by Afghan defense ministry, two Afghan national army service members were killed in southern Helmand and eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan following roadside bomb blast.

The source further added two other Afghan national army soldiers were also injured following the blast during the past 24 hours.

Afghan national army also conducted military operations in Helmand, Baghlan, Nangarhar and Maidan Wardak provinces of Afghanistan, Afghan defense ministry said following the statement adding that at least four militants were killed and eight others were injured.

Defense officials also added that one Afghan soldier was killed during the operations.

In a separate operation at Khakriz district of southern Kandahar province, Afghan national army soldiers disocovered and seized 52 improvised explosive devices.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - January 14 2013, 10:18 am

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Jan. 14., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban senior leader in Baghlan-e Jadid district, Baghlan province, today.

The senior leader commanded insurgents operating in Jowzjan and Sar-e Pul provinces. He was responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces as well as Afghan civilians in both provinces.

During the operation, the security force detained an additional insurgent.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

During a security operation in search of a Taliban leader, an Afghan and coalition security force detained three insurgents in Daman district, Kandahar province, today. The leader oversees the acquisition and transfer of weapons and ammunition to insurgents throughout the province. The security force also seized a large cache of ammunition as a result of the operation.

East

An Afghan and coalition security force killed Taliban leader, Haqiq, during a security operation in Sherzad district, Nangarhar province, today. After positively identifying the threat, the security force engaged the armed insurgents, killing Haqiq and two additional insurgents. No civilians were harmed during the operation. Haqiq, also known as Sur Gul Lala, conducted attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He controlled a money extortion campaign against the villagers within the district to fund Taliban activities. The security force also detained three suspected insurgents and seized a cache of weapons, gear and ammunition.

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Jan. 14., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained five insurgents, located one weapons cache and cleared two improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Jan. 13.

Ghazni province
Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces detained five insurgents during an engagement in Kwajah Omari district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Khowst province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Sabari district.

Nangarhar province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Chapahar district.

Wardak province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Nerkh district. The cache contained small arms, ammunition, grenades and multiple items being used for IEDs.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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