11 Afghan Police Kidnapped by Militants Freed

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan security forces and international troops freed 11 Afghan policemen kidnapped by militants nearly two weeks ago, the Defense Ministry said Saturday.  Militants abducted the Afghan policemen Dec. 5 during an ambush in Wardooj district of Badakhshan province. Two policemen were killed and four others wounded during the kidnapping, said...

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Syrian Forces Kill 17; Huge Protests in Homs

Activists say Syrian security forces killed at least 17 people on Friday as more than 200,000 protesters rallied against President Bashar al-Assad's government. Activists say most of the deaths took place in the flashpoint Homs region, where a huge crowd gathered to voice opposition to the Arab League's decision to postpone an emergency meeting on Syria that was set for Saturday. News organizations say the league postponed the foreign ministers' meeting to give Damascus more time to avoid sanctions by agreeing to a plan that could end the...

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U.S. drones allowed in Iraqi skies

ANKARA, Turkey – American troops are almost gone from Iraq, but that doesn’t mean the U.S. military will cease its operations there entirely. Baghdad has given Washington permission to keep flying Predator drones on surveillance missions over northern Iraq, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Friday. The unmanned airplanes, which operate out of Incirlik Air Base...

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3 Yemeni Officers Killed in Southern City

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Yemeni security officials say three military officers, including two from a renegade unit, were killed by unknown assailants in the southern city of Taiz. Friday's attack came days after the vice president announced a security plan calling for militia and military units to withdraw from the streets in an attempt to restore order after months of protests seeking President Ali Abdullah Saleh's ouster. The security officials said the slain officers from the renegade unit were shot in the center of Taiz. The...

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4 militants killed 24 injured in joint military operations

Saturday, December 17, 2011 – Officials in the ministry of interior affairs of Afghanistan following a press release on Saturday said, at least four militants were killed and 24 others were detained in joint military operations across the country during the past 24 hours. The source further added, the operations were conducted by Afghan security forces and NATO-led...

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Commander Kaftar release 3 hostages in Nahrin district

Saturday, December 17, 2011 –  Officials in northern Baghlan province announced the release of at least three civilians including an Afghan child, who were kidnapped by a local Jihadi leader few days back. Baraki district chief Mawlana Fazal Rahman said, the three individuals were kidnapped by commander, a female tribal Jihadi commander in Nahrin district of northern...

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2 militants detained in Afghan army operations

Image via WikipediaSaturday, December 17, 2011 –  Officials in the ministry of defense of Afghanistan following a press release on Saturday said, at least two militants were arrested by Afghan national army soldiers following a military operation in eastern Wardak province. The source further added, the operations were conducted by Afghan army soldiers after a number...

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Dec. 17., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Dec. 17) — A combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, yesterday. During the operation, the security force observed an armed individual displaying hostile intent.  Assessing an immediate threat, the force engaged, killing one insurgent. ...

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Local Taliban Commander Killed in Kunar Operation

A local Taliban commander and seven of his men were killed in a joint Afghan and Nato operation in eastern Kunar province on Thursday, a spokesman for the provincial governor said on Saturday. Commander Wazir Khan was killed during a clearing operation in Choki district. Two Taliban insurgents were also arrested during the operation that continued into Friday, spokesman...

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Upgraded Army Lynx helicopter fleet complete

At a ceremony yesterday, Thursday 15 December 2011, at AgustaWestland's Yeovil plant in Somerset, the handover of the last upgraded Lynx Mk9A took place three months ahead of the contract end delivery date. The first upgraded Lynx Mk9A helicopters with more powerful engines were delivered to Afghanistan on 25 May 2010, only 18 months after the project was started under...

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