Monday, February 18, 2013

2 insider attack facilitators killed: NATO

KABUL (PAN): Afghan and coalition forces on Monday confirmed killing two Taliban insider attack facilitators -- Mahmood and Rashid -- during an operation in the Ghaziabad district of eastern Kunar province on Wednesday. 

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said Mahmood was involved in the killing of an American service member in Kunar on May 11, 2012.

A statement from ISAF said Rashid was Mahmood's associate and a former Afghan National Army soldier, who facilitated and assisted with insider attack planning and execution.

In northern Kunduz province, six insurgents were arrested by Afghan and foreign troops in search of a Taliban leader in Aliabad district.

The individuals were associated with a Taliban leader who is an improvised explosive device expert and allegedly oversees attacks on Afghan and coalition forces in the province.

from Pajhwok
By Pajhwok Report Feb 18, 2013 - 16:41   

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Heavy clashes reported in Daikundi province of Afghanistan

According to local authorities in Daikundi province of Afghanistan heavy clashes took place between Afghan security forces and militants on Monday morning in Kajran district.
The officials further added the clashes started early Monday morning and is still continuing.

Provincial security chief Juma Guldi Yardam confirming the report said fight between Afghan security forces and militants started around 6:30 am and militants were still resisting Afghan security forces until evening today.

He said the incident took place after several militants equipped with heavy weapons attacked security check posts in Kajran district from Baghran area of Helmand province.

Daikundi province is among the peaceful provinces of Afghanistan however the province is neighboring volatile southern Helmand province where militants are occassionally carrying out insurgency activiites in this province.

In the meantime Mr. Yardam said at least two militants were reportedly killed and three others were injured following the clashes while three Afghan security forces were also injured.

He also said further reserve troops are prepared to be deployed to the fighting area if clashes were not ended.

from KHAAMA
By Sayed Jawad - 18 Feb 2013, 8:09 pm

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Feb. 18., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed one insurgent and cleared one improvised explosive device during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 17.

Nangarhar province
Coalition forces killed one insurgent during an engagement in Sherzad district.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Ghazni City.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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25 killed in series of bombings, gunfire in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Up to 21 people were killed and some 125 wounded in a series of bomb attacks in the eastern part of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, while a gunfire attack kills four people in the northern city of Mosul on Sunday.

In Baghdad, a spate of car bombs and roadside bombs struck crowded marketplaces and parking lots at the mainly Shiite districts with the aim of causing heavy casualties among residents.

The attacks occurred around 11:00 a.m. (0800 GMT), when three car bombs went off in Sadr City district , two car bombs hit al- Husseiniyah district, and one in al-Ameen, Kamaliyah and Saidiyah districts each.

Two more roadside bombs ripped through Palestine Street and the district of Karrada in central the capital.

The attacks killed a total of 21 people and wounded 125 others, according to the latest reports by the Interior Ministry.

In northern Iraq, the police said that an officer in the provincial intelligence department was killed in the morning by three gunmen in front of his house in the city of Mosul, the capital of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh.

An Iraqi army patrol close to the scene, chased the attackers and killed them after a fierce clash, the source said.

Nineveh province has long been a stronghold for insurgent groups, including al-Qaida militants. Its capital city of Mosul, some 400 km north of the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad, is one of the country's most restive cities.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks, but al-Qaida front in Iraq frequently claimed the responsibility of most deadly attacks in the country, raising fears that the terrorist group could return to widespread violence.

Sunday attacks came amid weeks of unrest and protests in the Sunni Arab provinces over complaints of being marginalized as well as claims that the Shiite-dominated security forces were indiscriminately arresting their sons and torturing them.

Tension remains high in the country despite that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki sought to defuse the crisis with Sunnis, as he offered release of hundreds of Sunni detainees and halted arrests made based on information from secret informers. He also lifted ban from some of Saddam Hussein's Baath party members and raised salaries for Sunni anti-Qaida militia.

from XINHUA
2013-02-18 00:20:19
Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Uruzgan clash leaves 3 rebels dead

Districts of Orūzgān.
Districts of Orūzgān. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
TIRINKOT (PAN): Three Taliban fighters were killed during a clash in the Sarkhum area of central Uruzgan province on Sunday, an official claimed.

The firefight broke out when police reached the area for a search operation, Farid Ayel, provincial police spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said three AK-47 assault rifles, a pistol and six magazines were seized from the militants as a result of the three hours clash.

from Pajhwok
By Pajhwok Report Feb 17, 2013 - 16:07   

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35 armed Taliban lay down arms in W. Afghanistan

file photo
HERAT, Afghanistan, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Thirty five armed Taliban militants gave up fighting after 10 years and handed over their weapons to authorities in the western Herat province on Sunday, police said.
"Today 35 dissident brothers including four mine makers under Mullah Nasim, who fought against government over the past 10 years gave up fighting and handed in their weapons including several anti-vehicle and anti-personal mines to police," provincial police chief Rahmatullah Safi said in his speech at a ceremony to welcome the former militants.

With joining these people to the peace process, the security will be further improved in Herat province, he further said.

The former Taliban militants, according to the police officer were active in the eastern and southern parts of Herat over the past 10 years.

Taliban militants have yet to make comment.

More than 3,500 Taliban fighters, according to officials have laid down their arms and joined the government-backed peace process over the past one year, a claim rebuffed by the armed outfit as baseless.

from XINHUA
2013-02-17 19:29:49

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7 Foreigners Kidnapped in Northern Nigeria

ABUJA, NIGERIA — Police say seven foreign construction workers were kidnapped and one Nigerian guard was killed during an attack on a police station, a prison and an international construction company in Bauchi State in northern Nigeria. 
They say “hoodlums” kidnapped four Lebanese construction workers along with three Europeans - one Greek, one British and one Italian - after killing a civilian guard at their company's compound.

Bauchi State Police spokesperson Hassan Muhammed Auyo says the attacks started Saturday night, shortly after 9 p.m.  He says the attackers tossed explosives into the police station and officers fought back.  Two cars were destroyed, gunfire was exchanged, and the gunmen moved on to their next target: the local prison.

“After fire for fire with hoodlums they couldn’t succeed," said Auyo. "They proceed into prison yard in the same Jama'are area to attack with the intent of freeing the inmates there. But unfortunately to them, and fortunately to us we also repelled that attack.”

Auyo says the gunmen then fled to the compound of Setraco Nigeria Ltd., an international construction company, and killed a civilian security guard before kidnapping the seven foreign staff members.

Auyo says as of Sunday afternoon, the location of the victims was not known.

“The investigation is ongoing to track where the fleeing suspects or the victims are," said Auyo. "For both the kidnappers and the victims, police are making a frantic effort to ensure that we get there and ensure them, God willing.”

No one has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings but Boko Haram, a northern Nigerian Islamist militant group is known for targeting prisons and police stations.
However, some locals say they believe the perpetrators were motivated by money, not extremism. They say the raid on the police station and prison was intended to distract security forces so they could kidnap the foreigners, a practice that has long earned kidnappers millions of dollars in Nigeria.

Boko Haram is a shadowy militant group that has been blamed for more than 3,000 deaths since it began its insurgency in 2009. Late last month, what is believed to be a faction of the group announced a unilateral cease-fire, but violence in northern Nigeria continues. 

Ardo Hazzad contributed to this report from Bauchi state, Nigeria.

from VOA NEWS
Heather Murdock
February 17, 2013

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Feb. 17., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

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

The leader allegedly oversaw the gathering and coordinating of munitions, fighters and logistics for Taliban leadership. Prior to his arrest, he was suspected of facilitating the movement of fighters and heavy weapons for a planned attack against Afghan and coalition forces.

During the operation, the security force also detained two suspected insurgents.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout
Afghanistan:

South

During a security operation today, an Afghan and coalition force detained four insurgents in search of a Taliban leader in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province. The leader is suspected of overseeing insurgents responsible for direct fire and improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

East

An Afghan and coalition force killed two insurgents during a security operation in search of a Taliban leader in Charkh district, Logar province, today. The leader is believed to transport weapons and explosives and oversee IED emplacement operations in the district. During the operation, the security force seized multiple assault rifles with ammunition and several grenades.

During a security operation in Sherzad district, Nangarhar province, today, an Afghan and coalition force killed an insurgent in search of a Taliban leader. The leader allegedly oversees 20 insurgents responsible for IED emplacement and direct attacks against Afghan and collation forces in Sherzad and Hisarak districts. During the operation, the security force seized multiple assault rifles with associated gear and several grenades.

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Feb. 17., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed three insurgents and cleared five improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 16.

Kapisa province
Coalition forces killed three insurgents during an engagement in Tagab district.

Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared three IEDs in Sabari district.

Nangarhar province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Chapahar district.

Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Khogyani district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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