Taliban commander killed in eastern Khost province

Sunday, November 13, 2011 – According to local security officials in eastern Afghanistan, a Taliban commander was killed and and two of his companions were detained following an operation by NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in eastern Khost province early Sunday morning.

Head of the provincial security commandment Media department Jannat Gul said, the operations were conducted in Nadir Shah Kot district of eastern Khost province.

The source further added, the Taliban militants were killed following clashes in the area.

Taliban militants group and the International Coalition forces yet to comment regarding the incident.

In the meantime, officials in ministry of defense of Afghanistan following a statement on Sunday said, at least five militants were killed and around 40 others were detained following Afghan Army operations across the country during the past 24 hours.

The statement did not disclose further information regarding the exact locations where the operations were conducted.

By Ghanizada   / Khaama Press

http://www.khaama.com/taliban-commander-killed-in-eastern-khost-province-315

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French Navy Joins Mediterranean Anti-Terrorism Operations

French ship Commandant Birot participates in Operation Active Endeavour.

NISIDA, Naples, Nov.12. - Unpredictable and intense periods of maritime operations aimed at disrupting any attempt by terrorists to maneuver in the Mediterranean Sea are one of the tools employed by NATO to help deter, defend, disrupt and protect against terrorism. Known as Deterrent Surges, these operations involve NATO assets converging on defined areas for a pre-planned period of time so as to deter terrorists but also to build and extend the Alliance’s Maritime Situational Awareness of the area.

Beginning Nov. 12 NATO will concentrate assets in the Eastern Mediterranean for more than a week’s intense patrolling:

“The backbone of this Surge is the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and maritime air reconnaissance. To this we are adding ships made available specifically for this operation,” said Captain Olivier Bodhuin Chief of Operations at Headquarters Maritime Command, Naples. “France and Romania are putting valuable contributions into this Surge demonstrating the importance nations still give to OAE after more than 10 years of operations. Commandante Birot recently came out of Operation Unified Protector and as a Frenchman I have a great personal satisfaction in seeing Birot join the Surge in direct support to operations,” stated Bodhuin.


According to Rear Adm. Javier Gonzalez-Huix, deputy chief of Staff, Operations, work on Operation Active Endeavour never ceased for one moment despite the headquarters commanding recent Maritime Operations in support of Libya: “Clearly the demands for Unified Protector were enormous but the focus on OAE never went away in this HQ. Remember that OAE is a lot more than just the ships at sea. There is a supporting network of intelligence and sophisticated technology that runs all day, every day”.

NATO Maritime Command Naples
Story by David Taylor

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16 killed in two Khyber attacks

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 13.: At least 16 people were killed and nine injured on Sunday in two attacks in Pakistan's northwest tribal region bordering Afghanistan, a media report said.

Eight people were killed and seven injured in a blast at a market in Teerah Valley area of Khyber Agency. Another eight people, including three children, were killed and two injured in a mortar shell attack in Sipah area of the same region, Xinhua reported citing state-owned television network PTV.

The first attack took place around 10.20 am in Sipah when a mortar shell was fired at a house.

Both the two attacks occurred in Pakistan's northwest tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
Shortly after, a blast was reported at the market in Teerah Valley. Eight local militiamen who were fighting against militants in the area were killed and seven other people were injured.

No one has claimed responsibility for the two attacks.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-11/13/c_131243984.htm
http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=26442&title=16-killed-in-two-Khyber-attacks

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5 Taliban militants killed in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Five Taliban militants were killed in a search operation launched Saturday afternoon by police in Pakistan's Punjab province, reported local media.
Local Urdu TV channel ARY quoted unidentified sources as saying that five security personnel were also killed in the operation. However, the report has not been officially confirmed.
The search operation was kicked off Saturday afternoon in the hilly Pir Chambal area of Pind Dadan Khan, a town in Punjab province's Jhelum District, which is some 100 kilometers southeast of the country's capital Islamabad.
The five militants killed belonged to Tehreek-e-Taliban ( Pakistan Taliban), said Samaa TV report, adding that they had been active in involving kidnapping people in the neighboring areas for ransom for months.
They used to releasing the hostages after the ransom was paid, said local media reports. However, on Saturday, they killed three people kidnapped from a cement factory two days ago and threw their bodies in the town. One of the kidnapped people was a security-in-charge of the factory.
Upon the tip-off from intelligence agency, the police launched a search operation in the Pir Chambal area where they hid. After nearly one hour of exchange of fire, police killed all the five militants. And the dead bodies of the militants were later airlifted by army helicopter to Rawalpindi, an adjacent city of Islamabad.
Police sources said that the five militants had been involved in more than 20 kidnapping cases in the area. Local watchers believed that they could have done the kidnapping for funding their group.

Editor: Deng Shasha

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-11/12/c_131243238.htm

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Worth a Thousand Words: Welcome Home

Maj. Craig Morash is greeted home by his daughter, Adeline, Oct. 11, 2011, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., after returning from a deployment. Morash was part of a six-month deployment to Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, where he supported Operation Enduring Freedom. He is an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot assigned to the 74th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter)

Worth a Thousand Words: Welcome Home

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Afghan Police detained 9 suspects after convoy attack

ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghan Local Police detained nine suspects after they attacked a convoy in Shah Joy district, Nov. 7.

The ALP convoy was ambushed by approximately 10 insurgent fighters while traveling from the Shah Joy bazaar to the Walan Rabat village.

Insurgents attacked the police force with machine gun and small arms fire, disabling the ALP vehicle. The ALP quickly gained fire superiority forcing the insurgents to retreat into the nearby Qal’ey ye Sarvar village.

An ALP and coalition quick reaction force team retrieved the immobile vehicle and assessed the ambush site while another ALP element arrived to search the village of Qal’eh ye Sarvar. 
During their search of the village, the ALP were again attacked by the insurgents who then retreated into nearby houses.

ALP members continued to pursue the suspects and safely detained nine personnel who were discovered hiding in the houses with suicide vests, AK-47s and bomb making materials. 
One of the insurgents was shot while trying to escape and was immediately treated by coalition Special Operations Forces medics.

A village elder later positively identified the detainees as known insurgents.

The next day, Zabul Deputy Provincial Chief of Police, Jelani and the Walan Rabat ALP Commander, Mohamedullah, sat down and individually interviewed the nine detainees. One of the detainees admitted he was an insurgent and was involved with the recent murder of an ALP member and also admitted to being involved in other ALP deaths in the area.

After interviewing all the suspects, Jelani arrested six of the detainees and released the other three to their village elder.
The six detainees were transferred to a detention facility and are currently in Afghan National Police custody.

Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan Media Operations Center
Story by Spc. Ashley Bowman

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Nov. 13., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

2011-11-S-018
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
For Immediate Release
KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov. 13, 2011) — A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed one insurgent and detained multiple suspected insurgents during an operation in search of a Haqqani network leader in Nadir Shah Kot district, Khost province, Saturday.
The leader coordinates and participates in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, as well as, provides information to Haqqani network leaders.
The security force observed an armed individual with an AK-47 assault rifle maneuver to a fighting position during the operation. Assessing a threat, the security force engaged the armed individual, killing the insurgent.
The security force confiscated an AK-47 assault rifle; reported no civilian injuries were reported during the operation.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:
South
A coalition security force discovered a weapons cache during a routine patrol in Shah Joy district, Zabul province, yesterday. The cache consisted of several radios and other communication devices, one 107 mm rocket, two rocket-propelled grenade rounds, and materials for improvised explosive devices. All of the weapons and components were safely destroyed on site.
In Maiwand district, Kandahar province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban facilitator and multiple suspected insurgents during an operation, yesterday. The facilitator operates in Maiwand district and was directly involved in a recent kidnapping of several Afghan National Army soldiers. The facilitator also provides funds, weapons and equipment to his network. The security force confiscated two pistols during the operation.
A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained multiple suspected insurgents during an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, yesterday. The leader is a member of the Helmand Taliban Military Commission and is responsible for planning and coordinating attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the district.
East
A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained multiple suspected insurgents during an operation in search of a Haqqani network leader in Zarghun Shahr district, Paktika province, yesterday. The leader directs an insurgent cell in the district and is directly responsible for numerous improvised explosive device and rocket attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the region. The security force confiscated one rifle during the operation.
A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained a Haqqani network leader during an operation in Baraki Barak district, Logar province, yesterday. The leader was directly involved in placing several roadside bombs in the Pul-e ‘Alam district of the province.

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R.I.P. - Pfc. Theodore B. Rushing

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Pfc. Theodore B. Rushing, 25, of Longwood, Fla. died Nov. 11, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment; 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, N.Y.

            For more information, the media may contact the Fort Drum public affairs at 315-408-3087.

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British and Coalition Forces Hold Remembrance Day Celebration (HD)

B-Roll of the British and Coalition Forces Hold Remembrance Day Celebration at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
Video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Snodgrass
11/11/2011

http://youtu.be/4VcVreWEJ20?hd=1

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Australian Soldier wounded in Afghan gun battle

An Australian soldier has been wounded after coming under fire from insurgents in Afghanistan.

A joint patrol of Afghan and Australian troops came under fire from insurgents in the southern province of Uruzgan. 
 ---
By Afghanistan correspondent Sally Sara 
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-11/soldier-wounded-in-afghan-gun-battle/3661794
---
The Australian soldier was wounded by small arms fire after more than four hours of skirmishes between the patrol and insurgent gunmen armed with automatic weapons.
The incident happened in the Deh Rafshan district, 12 kilometres east of the Australian base at Tarin Kot.
The wounded soldier is now receiving medical treatment at the Role Three Military Hospital at Kandahar Airfield.
The Australian Defence Force says his condition is serious, but stable.
The latest casualty comes after separate attacks on Australian troops by Afghan army soldiers.
Captain Bryce Duffy died alongside Corporal Ashley Birt and Lance Corporal Luke Gavin almost two weeks ago after they were gunned down by an Afghan soldier training with the Australian Mentoring Taskforce.
Another Afghan soldier wounded three Australians and two Afghans when he opened fire with a grenade launcher and an automatic weapon at a patrol base in Uruzgan province on November 9.
The three Australian soldiers have now been flown to a military medical facility in Germany.
Defence says the Afghan National Army attacker, Mohammad Roozi, is still at large.
Defence says the latest incident is unrelated to the operation underway to locate the soldier responsible for the November 9 attack.
Eleven troops and have been killed and 48 have been wounded in Afghanistan this year.
The casualties were among those honoured today in hundreds of Remembrance Day ceremonies around the country.

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Taliban Kill 9 Afghans, incl. a Woman & Kid

Photo: Civilians look at the wreckage of a vehicle hit by a roadside bomb, which killed eight people in a wedding party. (Reuters: Parwiz)

Afghan president Hamid Karzai has condemned the killing of eight civilians in a roadside bombing in eastern Afghanistan.

A car carrying a bride, a groom and his relatives struck the roadside bomb in the eastern province of Laghman.
The groom, a woman and a child were among the dead.
The explosion happened in the Alingar district as the family members were returning from a wedding party.
Commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, General John Allen, has also condemned the bombing, saying the Taliban do not care about the Afghan people.
He says it was a sad example of the insurgency's absolute lack of respect for civilian life.
The latest attack took place as more than 2,000 tribal, religious and political leaders from across the country prepare to travel to Kabul to attend a traditional meeting, known as a Loya Jirga.
Delegates will discuss plans for a military and strategic pact with the United States.
Last week, Taliban leader Mullah Omar released a statement urging his fighters to reduce civilian casualties and warned of punishments for those who fail to obey his order.

ISAF commander joins President Karzai to condemn Laghman bombing | ISAF Joint Command

 Gen. John R. Allen, commander of International Security Assistance Force, joins President Karzai in condemning today’s roadside bomb incident in the Ali Angar district of eastern Laghman province, which reportedly killed nine Afghan civilians, including a woman and child.

“This is another sad example of the insurgency’s absolute lack of respect for civilian life,” said Gen. Allen. "Over the past week, we have seen many more innocent Afghan citizens dying at the hands of the Taliban.”

“Apparently, the Taliban do not care about the Afghan people,” said Allen. “Their leaders have lost control over their fighters, which is particularly troubling at this sacred time of year. If specific guidance given during the holy period of Eid doesn’t stop insurgents from killing civilians, then what will?”

“Once again, I call on Mullah Omar to rein in these despicable acts and to publicly condemn these senseless attacks upon the Afghan population,” Allen concluded.

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