4 ISAF personnel killed in Zabul plane crash

Districts of Zabul. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

QALAT (PAN): Four International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) personnel were killed in a plane crash in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, officials said.

The cause of the crash was under investigation, the NATO-led force said, adding initial reporting indicated there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident.

In line with policy, ISAF neither revealed the victims’ nationalities nor the exact location but Afghan officials said the crash occurred in the Shahjoi district of Zabul province.

The chopper went down in Baghgi area in the afternoon due to some technical fault, the district’s administrative head, Mohammad Siddique, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Brig. Gen. Rogh Lewanay, the provincial police chief, verified the crash. However, he had no information about casualties.

Last week, a fierce hailstorm damaged dozens of US military helicopters in southern Afghanistan. "A storm moved through southern Afghanistan April 23, causing damage to a number of coalition aircraft at Kandahar Airfield,” ISAF said.

The multinational force said: “ISAF had already implemented actions to mitigate the effects of the storm and our forces continue to receive all necessary support."

Although ISAF did not give a specific number, a US news channel reported 50 helicopters had been harmed by the storm. “The damage was severe enough that the helicopters are grounded until they can be repaired,” Fox News said.

from Pajhwok
By Nasim Hotak Apr 27, 2013 - 18:11

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International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan – Four International Security Assistance Force service members died today as a result of a plane crash in southern Afghanistan.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash.

It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.

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R.I.P. - Capt. Aaron R. Blanchard, 1st Lt. Robert J. Hess

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

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

            They died April 23, in Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire.  The soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Aviation Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

            Killed were:

            Capt. Aaron R. Blanchard, 32, of Selah, Wash., and

            1st Lt. Robert J. Hess, 26, of Fairfax, Va.

            For more information please contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at 315-772-8286 or 315-523-4546.

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from https://www.facebook.com/FIF.HOH

Capt. Aaron R. Blanchard, 32, of Selah, Wash. died April 23, in Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Aviation Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Blanchard, an Apache pilot, joined the Marine Corps in January 2000, and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January to September 2003. After separating from the Marine Corps and completing an ROTC program Blanchard was commissioned into the Army in June 2009. He completed pilot training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and arrived at Fort Drum in September 2011. He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in April 2013.

Blanchard's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the NATO Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Army Aviator Badge, the Navy-Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, four Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and two Rifle Expert Badges.

He also completed Marine Combat Training, Aviation Machinist Mate Courses, the Apache Aviator Qualification Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course and the Aviation Officer Basic Course.

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

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1st Lt. Robert J. Hess, 26, of Fairfax, Va. died April 23, in Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Aviation Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Hess, a Blackhawk pilot, was commissioned into the Army in November, 2010. After completing pilot training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, he arrived at Fort Drum in November 2012. He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom in April 2013.

Hess's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the NATO Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Aviator Badge. He completed the Aviation Officer Basic Course, the Blackhawk Aviator Qualification Course, the Blackhawk M-Model Aviator Qualification Course, and the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course.

Hess is survived by his mother, father and brother.

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5 killed, 61 wounded in bomb attacks in Iraqi capital

BAGHDAD, April 26 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and 61 others injured in four bombing attacks that hit the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Friday, police said.

A bomb exploded at the entrance to the Qubaisi mosque in Shurta area southwest of Baghdad as worshipers were leaving the Friday prayers, killing four of them, a police source told Xinhua.

About 46 worshipers were injured in the blast and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, he added.

A civilian was killed and seven others were wounded when a car bomb exploded Friday evening in Sadr City area in eastern Baghdad, the source said.

Four people were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded in Dora district in southern Baghdad, he said.

Another bomb struck worshipers near Al- Razak mosque in Al Rashidiya area in northern Baghdad, wounding four of them, the source said earlier.

The Iraqi security forces have strengthened security procedures in the vicinity of mosques due to the bombings, he added.

Violence is still common in war-torn Iraq despite the dramatic decrease since its peak in 2006 and 2007 when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.

from XINHUA
2013-04-27 03:06:03
Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Public uprising against Pakistani and Afghan Taliban in Kunar

Heavy clashes have been reported between local residents and Taliban militants in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan on Friday.

According to local authorities in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan, the incident took place in Dangam district after local residents started resisting local and foreign Taliban militants in this district.

Provincail goveror Syed Fazlullah Wahidi confirming the report said efforts have been put in place by local tribal elders to reconcile between the local resident and Taliban militants.

He said, “Local residents started public uprising against the Pakistani Taliban militants and currently local tribal elders have organized a Jirga to end the violence.”

Local elders in Dangam are saying that the clashes between the local resident and Taliban militants took place after Taliban fighters were torturing two residents.

They also said that Taliban militants attacked the local residents while they gathered to discuss with the militants.

According to the local tribal elders, at least two Taliban suicide bombers have been killed and another one has been injured during the clashes, while four local residents have also been injured.

Local elders are also saying that clashes have ended however both local resident and Taliban fighters are prepared for another fight, which may take place any time.

from KHAAMA
By Meena Haseeb - 27 Apr 2013, 9:22 am

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6 people killed after Arab communities clash in northern Mali

BAMAKO, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A confrontation between two Arab communities left six people dead in northern Mali, local sources told Xinhua on Friday.

Each of the rival sides wants to position itself as the main Arab group in Thursday's clash in Anefis, 200 km north of the biggest northern town of Gao.

"This confrontation was due to the events that took place at Ber, where the Arab traders who are organized under the banner of the Arab Movement for Azawad (MAA) pushed out the members of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and injured two of their members.

"The MNLA fighters came to revenge against the peaceful Arab traders in Anefis as they were fleeing to Kidal. The reprisal attacks occurred under the watch of the Serval forces and the International Support Mission for Mali (MISMA)," another source said.

The sources said the MNLA had deployed its fighters in Anefis with about thirty vehicles.

from XINHUA
2013-04-26 19:56:40
Editor: Hou Qiang

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Would-be bomber shot dead in Kandahar

Map of Afghanistan with Kandahar highlighted (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): A would-be suicide bomber was killed after sneaking into the Spin Boldak district of southern Kandahar province from Pakistan on Saturday, an official said.

Border police positively identified the bomber and shot him dead at 12.15pm, the governor’s spokesman Javed Faisal told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Police fired at the militant after he ignored warnings to stop, the official said. As a result of police firing, his suicide vest exploded, killing the suspect and wounding a woman and a girl.

from Pajhwok
By Bashir Ahmad Naadim Apr 27, 2013 - 13:36

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Taliban announce “Khalid bin Walid” summer offensive in Afghanistan

The Taliban militants group in Afghanistan on Sunday formally announced its summer offensive under the name of “Khalid bin Walid”.
According to a statement released by the Taliban group, the summer offensive “Khalid bin Walid” will be conducted under the supervision of Taliban military experts considering the current situation of Afghanistan.

The statement further added, special military tactics will be used to attack foreign military across the country including use of insider attacks by militants who are based inside the military institutions.

Taliban in its statement also added that diplomatic institutions and airfields will be the main targets of the Taliban fighters where coordinated attacks will be launched by Taliban fighters and suicide bombers.

The summer offensive under the code name of “Khalid bin Walid” will be launched on 28 April 2013, which is equivalent to the victory of Mujahideen against the communist government.

Taliban in its statement also urged to strictly prevent civilian casualties and called on ordinary civilians to prevent from commuting near the foreign troops military bases, residence and stop working for the foreign military.

Taliban also urged Afghan security forces to prevent serving under the current Afghan regime led by president Hamid Karzai in a bid to be safe from the Taliban fighters target.

from KHAAMA
By Sayed Jawad - 27 Apr 2013, 10:51 am

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Apr. 27., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan National Security Forces killed two insurgents, and found and safely cleared one improvised explosive device during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, April 26.

Ghazni province

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared one IED during operations in the Andar district.

Kunar province

Afghan National Security Forces killed two insurgents and recovered IED-making materials during operations in the Dangam district.

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Taliban Release Deminers After A Week Hostage in Kandahar

Districts of Kandahar.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Taliban insurgents have released 10 deminers in southern Kandahar province on Saturday, after having held them hostage for a week, local officials said.

The deminers were taken hostage in Maiwand district of the province, while the deminers from Mine Clearance Cultivator (MCC) were busy clearing roadside mines in the district, provincial spokesman Jawid Faisal said.

"The deminiers have been beaten badly by the group [Taliban] and they were released today," Jawid Faisal said.

Last week, the 27 deminers were busy clearing mines in the district when they were surrounded by the Taliban. Seventeen other miners escaped from the area using one of their cars.

But 10 others were taken hostage by the Taliban.

The local officials had said that the deminers didn't inform the security forces while they were busy in the area.

Maiwand district is considered one of the insecure areas in the province where insurgents use improvised explosive devices to target the local security forces.

Written by TOLOnews.com
Saturday, 27 April 2013 11:55
Last Updated on Saturday, 27 April 2013 12:12
 

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