Oct. 31., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force killed Taliban leader Sajid during a security operation in Helmand province Tuesday.

Sajid, also known as Abdul Hakim, was in charge of an improvised explosive device cell operating in the province and was believed responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces based in the area.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout
Afghanistan:

East
Afghan Provincial Response Company Ghazni, enabled by coalition forces, seized a large cache of homemade explosives during a search operation in Ghazni province yesterday. Following the operation the Afghan and coalition force destroyed the cache, which contained 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of potassium chlorate - a known explosive - along with detonation cords and initiators.

South
An Afghan and ISAF partnered force discovered and seized six victim-operated IEDs with power sources in a compound during a dismounted patrol in Kandahar province yesterday. The IEDs were successfully dismantled by the combined force.

Read More

Oct. 31., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Oct. 30.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs in Muqer district.

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

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

Read More

An Afghan police killed 2 ISAF British nationals

NATO says a man wearing an Afghan police uniform has shot and killed two coalition troops in southern Afghanistan in the latest apparent "insider" attack.

The international coalition did not give further details, but Afghan officials said the attacker killed two British soldiers Tuesday in Helmand province.

The incident is the latest in a series of such attacks that threaten to seriously undermine trust between NATO and their Afghan counterparts, as foreign combat troops prepare to complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

At least 53 coalition service members have been killed this year by Afghan soldiers and police or militants disguised as security personnel.  NATO commanders have attributed a quarter of the so-called "insider" attacks to Taliban infiltration.

from VOA News
October 30, 2012
---
from ISAF:
2012-10-C-034

For Immediate Release

KABUL, Afghanistan (Oct. 30, 2013) – An individual wearing the uniform of an Afghan policeman turned his weapon against International Security Assistance Force service members in southern Afghanistan today, killing two.

The incident is currently under investigation.

It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.
---
Taliban spokesman, @ABalkhi:

URGENT| Afghan police officer (Atiqullah) opens fire on foreign troops, 12pm local time, Malgir area, Babaji district (Helmand
3 British invaders killed on spot, hero grabs enemy machine gun, joins Mujahideen nearby.
---
from Pajhwok:
by Shams Jalal onOct 30, 2012 - 15:25   

LASHKARGAH (PAN): Two British soldiers were killed on Tuesday when a man wearing police uniform attack the international soldiers in southern province of Helmand, officials said.

The incident took place at noon in Nahr-i-Siraj area of Grishk district, when the man opened fire on the British soldiers near Parsha police checkpoint next to a river, killing two soldiers, a security official said on condition of anonymity.

The attacker managed to flee from the area, he added.

Deputy commander of coordination centre at Helmand police headquarters Col. Mohammad Ismael Hotak, said they were informed about the incident and had sent a team to probe the shooting.

Read More

Oct. 30., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Oct. 30, 2012) — An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Helmand province today.

The arrested leader is believed to be involved in providing tactical guidance to Taliban senior leaders while facilitating the movement of improvised explosive device components to insurgent IED cell members.

The security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents as a result of the operation.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban weapons and IED facilitator in Kandahar province today. The arrested facilitator is suspected of smuggling weapons throughout Kandahar province and acquiring homemade explosive and other IED-making materials for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
Afghan and coalition forces confirmed today the arrest of a Taliban leader in Kandahar province Monday. The arrested leader is believed to have assisted in inspecting and relocating IEDs within western Kandahar province.
 Afghan and coalition forces confirmed today the arrest of a Taliban leader in Helmand province Wednesday. The arrested leader is alleged to have supported the insurgency by facilitating weapons to Taliban fighters while coordinating and executing ambush and IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
East

An Afghan and coalition force detained a number of insurgents during a security operation in search of a Haqqani leader in Logar province today. The Haqqani leader is believed responsible for coordinating and executing IED and small-arms fire attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces throughout northern Logar province.
 

Read More

Oct. 30., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained eight insurgents and cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Oct. 29.

Khowst province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained six insurgents during an engagement in Sabari district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktika province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces detained two insurgents while investigating an IED in Yousef Khel district. The IED was safely cleared and the detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Afghan Uniformed Police found and safely cleared an IED in Sharan district.

Wardak province
Afghan National Police and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Maidan Shahr district.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

Read More

Taliban attack Afghan and US troops in Wardak province

Districts of Wardak. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Afghan National Army troops and their partnered U.S. Special Forces were ambushed by insurgents in Wardak Province, October 29.

The ANA and USSF conducted a tactical ground movement through Nerkh District for a routine assessment of Afghan Local Police checkpoints.

Partnered Forces were attacked by small-arms fire and rocket propelled grenades by more than a dozen insurgents. The partnered forces returned fire resulting in three insurgents killed.

Special Operations Task Force – East Commander, Lieutenant Col. Christopher J. Fox said, “While security increases in the area, the Taliban are scrambling to regain control. They continue to put innocent lives at risk. We are standing by our partnered forces to protect the people of Nerkh and all of Wardak Province.”

No civilian or Afghan National Security Forces were injured or killed during the engagement.

Taliban militants group yet to comment regarding the report.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Mon Oct 29, 8:08 pm

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5 Taliban, 2 civilians killed in Ghazni security operation

GHAZNI CITY (PAN): Five Taliban fighters and two civilians were killed during a joint security operation conducted by the Afghan and coalition forces in southern Ghazni province, officials said on Monday.

The incident happened on Sunday night when Afghan and the International Security Assistance Force launched the operation in Qazi Qala area on the outskirts of Ghazni City, the provincial capital of Ghazni, a National Directorate of Security official said on condition of anonymity.

Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, the deputy governor, revealed the Taliban fighters were killed in retaliatory firings after Taliban attacked the security personnel.

A woman and an elderly man also died in the two-hour long clash, he said.

Authorities seized five motorcycles, a large quantity of weapons and ammunitions belonging to the militants, added Ahmadi.

from Pajhwok
by Saifullah Maftoon on Oct 29, 2012 - 13:23

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2 Afghan soldiers killed following blast in Helmand

According to local authorities in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, at least two Afghan national army service members were killed following a roadside improvised explosive device blast in Garmser district on Monday.

Garamser district chief Ayoub Omer confirming the report said the incident took place early Monday after the vehicle of the Afghan national army soldiers struck with a roadside bomb.

In the meantime a spokesman for the Taliban group Qari Yousuf Ahmadi claimed responsibility behind the incident and said 4 Afghan national army service members were killed in the blast however local officials denied the claims.

Taliban militants frequently use improvised explosive device as the weapon of their choice to target Afghan and coalition security forces but in a number of cases Afghan civilians become the victims.

An average number of 243 Afghan national army soldiers are killed or injured in militants attacks in Afghanistan in 2012, according to ISAF.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - Mon Oct 29, 4:13 pm

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Oct. 29., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents during a security operation to arrest a Taliban leader in Ghazni province today.

As the security force approached the Taliban leader’s suspected location, multiple armed insurgents attacked the security force with small-arms fire. The security force returned fire, killing the insurgents.

The security force also detained one suspected insurgent and seized a machine gun with large quantities of ammunition, several assault-style rifles, a pistol, and assorted ammunition as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Kandahar province today. The arrested leader is believed to be responsible for high profile attack planning, facilitating weapons use, and leading a group of Taliban fighters within Kandahar province.

East

An Afghan and coalition force detained a number of suspected insurgents during a security operation in search of a Haqqani leader in Logar province today. The leader is believed to coordinate direct fire and improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the province.

An Afghan and coalition force detained a suspected insurgent during a security operation in search of a Haqqani leader in Khost province today. The leader is suspected of planning ambush attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces and assisting in the facilitation of weapons for use in insurgent attacks.

Read More

Another suicide bombing attempt foiled in southern Afghanistan

According to local authorities in southern Uruzgan province of Afghanistan, Afghan security forces thwarted a suicide bomb blast in this province.

Provincial governor spokesman Abdullah Hemat said a suicide bomber was shot dead in central Tarinkowt city of southern Uruzgan province before he detonate his explosives.

Mr. Hemat did not disclose further information regarding the incident and identity of the suicide bomber who was killed by Afghan police forces.

This comes as Afghan security forces during the first day of Eid on Friday managed to arrest a suicide bomber in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan who was willing to carry out a deadly suicide bomb blast in provincial security commandment.

Meanwhile a suicide bomber on Friday detonated his explosives among the participants of Eid prayers near a mosque in northern Maimana city of Faryab province killing at least 41 and injuring more than 50 others.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai on Sunday visited Maimana city and met with the family members of the victims of Faryab bombing.

President Karzai once again strongly condemned the bombing and vowed to assist the family members of the victims who lost their loved ones.

Afghan high peace council also condemned the bombing and called it a crime against the humanity.

from KHAAMA
By Sayed Jawad - Sun Oct 28, 7:59 pm

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Al Shabab Ambushes KDF in Southern Somalia

(www.polgeonow.com)

Kismayo — Al shabab fighters have laid an ambush Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) at a rural village between Afmadow and Kismayo towns in southern Somalia, reports said.

The attack occurred on Saturday night in the main road linking Afmadow to the southern port city of Kismayo and both sides exchanged heavy gunfire that lasted for several hours, according to the locals.

"The Kenyan convoy was en route to Kismayo when the attack happened. People are feared dead during the combat," a witness said, adding he could not confirm the casualties.

Al shabab was not available to reach for comments.

from allAfrica/Shabelle

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US drones kill 4 AQAP fighters in rare strike in northern Yemen

By Bill Roggio - October 28, 2012 - LWJ

US drones killed four al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters in the first strike recorded against the terror group in northern Yemen. A local al Qaeda commander was targeted, and two Saudis are thought to be among those killed.
The unmanned Predators or Reapers fired several missiles at two compounds in the Abu Jabara area of Saada province today, Yemeni security officials and tribesmen told Reuters, which reported that four "militants" were killed. A local AQAP commander known as Hadi al Tais was said to be the target of the airstrike; it is unclear if he was killed.
According to The Associated Press, three AQAP fighters, including two Saudis, were killed in the attack that targeted a compound of "a wanted al Qaeda militant from another Yemeni province."
The strike is the first recorded against AQAP in northern Yemen since the US began targeting the terror group in late 2009. All of the other strikes have targeted AQAP's network and fighters in the southern provinces.
Saada is a hotspot where local Salafist groups, backed by AQAP and the government, battle the Houthis, a Shia separatist group that is supported by Iran. The Houthis, who are based in Al Jawf and Saada, have been fighting the Sunni government for years. In 2010, the Houthis also clashed with Saudi security forces along the northern border. Hundreds of Houthi fighters and Saudi troops were killed in the fighting.
In early December 2011, AQAP officially declared war on the Houthis. Ibrahim Suleiman al Rubaish, al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula's Mufti, issued the announcement and called the Shia a "virus" on the Sunni people. Rubaish was held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility before he was released in 2006. AQAP has conducted several suicide attacks against the Houthis, including an attack in December 2011 that killed a military commander, and another that killed 17 people, including a top Houthi leader and his son.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/10/us_drones_kill_4_aqa_1.php#ixzz2AeB1mAsP

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Three policemen killed in gunmen attacks in Iraq

BAQUBA, Iraq, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Three policemen were killed and five people wounded in two attacks by insurgents against Iraqi security forces in the eastern province of Diyala on Sunday, a provincial police source told Xinhua.

On early Sunday, gunmen attacked a police checkpoint on Imam Wais area, 115 km northeast of Baghdad, killing three policemen and wounding three others, the source said on condition of anonymity.

In a separate incident, two civilians were injured when two mortar rounds landed outside an Iraqi army checkpoint at a village located north of the provincial capital city of Baquba, some 65 km northeast of Baghdad, the source said.

Sunday's attacks came a day after a series of attacks that killed a total of 23 Iraqis and wounded over 70 others.

Such attacks cast a pall over the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha festival. The four-day festival is also known as the Feast of the Sacrifice, which marks the end of the spiritual peak of the annual pilgrimage or Hajj in Arabic, when pilgrims descend from the hill of Arafat to the nearby holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

from XINHUA
2012-10-28 19:59:54

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Two bomb planters killed by their own IED in Uruzgan

TIRINKOT (PAN): It was a fatal disaster for two bomb planters when their explosives went off prematurely, killing both in central Uruzgan province on Sunday, according to officials.

The blast occurred at around 5 am in Garmau Manda area, on the outskirts of Tirinkot, the provincial capital, when the suspects planted a bomb and were in the midst of fixing a second in a popular picnic area, police spokesman Farid Ail told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Hundreds of people had been gathering in the area during Eid holidays for picnics.  Ali said thatif the bombs had exploded, a massive carnage might have taken place.

Police managed to defuse the second bomb.

No further details were revealed about the dead bombers.

from Pajhwok
by Ajmal WisalonOct 28, 2012 - 11:46

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At least 4 killed, several injured in northern Nigeria church explosion

KADUNA, Nigeria, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least four persons have been killed and several others were injured in an early morning explosion which rocked St. Rita Catholic Church in Malaila area of northern Nigeria's Kaduna State during Sunday mass, a top Red cross official told Xinhua on Sunday.

Although the zonal coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the northwest region of Nigeria Musa Ilalah had told Xinhua on phone that casualty figures were yet to be established, a Red cross senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that four people have, so far, been confirmed dead.

"Three people, including the suicide bomber, died at the explosion site while one other person was confirmed dead in one of the hospitals where the victims were rushed to. Several people including the Reverend Fathers of the church were seriously injured and parts of the church were seriously damaged," said the Red Cross official.

The official casualty figures might increase before the end of the day as rescue officials have been shuttling between the explosion site and the health facilities were the victims are being treated, the official added.

"A number of casualties have been evacuated to hospitals in the state by our officials," said the national spokesperson of NEMA Yushau Shuaib who earlier confirmed the incident in a text message.

According to the NEMA official, the Sunday morning explosion occurred when a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into the church gate.

Security operatives have also been deployed to cordon-off the area, Shuaib added.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the Sunday morning bomb attack which occurred barely two days after Muslims in the country and worldwide celebrated the annual Eid-el-Kabir festival. However, similar attacks had been perpetrated by the Islamic Boko Haram sect which operates mainly in northern and central parts of Nigeria.

Over 1,500 people have been killed since 2009 when the sect launched its violent attacks in northern Nigeria, according to the latest report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW).


from XINHUA
Editor: Chen Zhi
2012-10-28 20:00:38

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Wave of Deadly Attacks Reported Across Iraq

A wave of deadly attacks has shattered the peace in Iraq, where Muslims are marking the second day of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

Officials say at least 15 people were killed in a series of explosions and shootings on Saturday, many of them Shi'ite pilgrims marking the holiday.

The violence includes a bombing north of Baghdad that killed at least five Shi'ite pilgrims who were in a minibus that was carrying them to a mosque.

Investigators say another explosion at a popular open-air market near the capital killed at least five people, including several children, while a series of attacks elsewhere in Iraq left at least five others dead.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attacks. Sunni insurgents and al-Qaida militants have previously targeted Shi'ites in a bid to stir up sectarian strife in Iraq.

Violence across Iraq is down sharply from its peak in 2006 and 2007. However, 365 people were killed in unrest in September, making it the country's deadliest month in two years.

from VOA News
October 27, 2012

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Three killed, 25 injured in Nowshera, Pakistan blast

(file photo)

PESHAWAR: Three people were killed and at least 25 injured when an explosion took place in the Ziarat Kaka Sahib area in Nowshera on Sunday.

According to the Nowshera police, a remote-controlled bomb had been planted on a bicycle in front of the main gate of the shrine of Kaka Sahib.

The shrine houses the grave of a famous Pashtun Sufi saint Kasteer Gul, who is known as Kaka Saheb. The shrine is often frequented by locals and a large number of people were also gathered there today on the occasion of Eid.

Security forces had cordoned off the area and the injured were shifted to local hospitals.

Among the 25 injured, five were reported to be in a critical condition.

SHO Nowshera Mumtaz Khan stated that the bomb weighed between 3-5kg and had been hidden inside a bag of fruits kept on the bicycle.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, information minister for the Khyber Pakhthunkhwa province where the attack occurred, also confirmed the incident and casualties.

He said: “According to our initial information it was a remote-controlled bomb but we are waiting for a final report from the bomb disposal officials.”

from DAWN
by Zahir Shah Sherazi , 10/28/2012.

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Indonesia Arrests 11 in Terror Plot to Bomb US Embassy

Indonesian police officers stand guard outside a building after a raid in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012.

Indonesian police say 11 people have been arrested in a suspected plot to attack the U.S. embassy in Jakarta and other domestic and foreign targets.

National police spokesman Suhardi Alius said Saturday the arrests by a special anti-terror unit took place in four provinces. 

Alius said the suspects, members of the newly-formed Harakah Sunni Movement for Indonesian Society, were preparing to launch a series of strikes.  He said targets also included a plaza near the Australian embassy in Jakarta, a local office of the American mining giant Freeport-McMoRan and the U.S. consulate in Surabaya.  A police facility in Central Java was also targeted.

Authorities say evidence from arrest sites include bombs, ammunition, detonators, bomb-making manuals and other explosives materials.

Neither the U.S. nor Australian embassies has commented on the arrests, and it was not immediately disclosed how far the attack plans had advanced.

Earlier this month, Indonesian police said they had uncovered evidence of a planned terrorist attack on dignitaries attending ceremonies on the resort island of Bali marking the 10th anniversary of bombings that killed 202 people.

The October 2002 attacks on two Bali nightclubs were carried out by militants from the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group.  The bombings were followed by a wave of terror attacks across Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country.

from VOA News
October 27, 2012

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Read More

British troops deaths in Afghanistan ‘not due to friendly fire’

An initial review into the deaths of a Royal Marine and an army medic in Afghanistan has revealed the killings were not caused by “friendly fire”, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Corporal Channing Day, 25, who served with the 3 Medical Regiment, and Corporal David O’Connor, 27, of 40 Commando, were fatally injured while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Wednesday.

An Afghan man, who is believed to have been a member of the Afghan Uniformed Police but who was not wearing uniform at the time, also died during the incident, an MOD spokesperson confirmed.

Cpl O’Connor, from Havant in Hampshire, and Cpl Day, from Comber in County Down, came under fire near the village of Char Kutsa, in the Nahr-e Saraj district.

The MoD says its analysis of the deaths is still continuing and “further investigation into the involvement or otherwise of the dead Afghan male is ongoing.”

British defense ministry officials said, “A joint incident assessment team, comprising specialists from International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), along with representatives from the government of Afghanistan, have conducted an initial review at the scene and have concluded that this was not a blue-on-blue ["friendly fire"] incident, and that the deaths of Corporal O’Connor and Corporal Day were caused by a third party or parties whose identities have yet to be established but who are not UK personnel.

“Further investigation into the involvement or otherwise of the dead Afghan male is ongoing”, the officials said adding that analysis of the event was “likely to take some time” while forensic examinations were carried out. A parallel Royal Military Police investigation was also being undertaken.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the deaths were “a terrible tragedy” and it was still unclear what exactly had happened.

“We know there were three people dead, one of them wearing civilian clothes,” he said.

Asked if it was another so-called green on blue attack – where Afghans turn on their Isaf partners – Mr Hammond said: “There is a possibility that that is what has happened but it is not clear at this stage who the shooter actually was.”

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Sat Oct 27, 3:33 pm

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Oct. 28., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained an insurgent and cleared two improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Oct. 27.

Khowst Province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared two IEDs, one in Gurbuz District and one in Terezayi District.

Afghan Border Police and coalition forces detained an insurgent during an engagement in Terezayi District. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

Read More

R.I.P. - Staff Sgt. Kashif M. Memon, Sgt. Clinton K. Ruiz

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

          They died of wounds suffered Oct. 25 when their unit was attacked by small arms fire in Khas Uruzgan, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan.

Killed were:

          Staff Sgt.  Kashif  M. Memon, 31, of Houston, Texas.  He was assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

          Sgt. Clinton K. Ruiz, 22, of Murrieta, Calif.  He was assigned to the 9th Military Information Support Battalion (Airborne), 8th Military Information Support Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

          For more information media may contact the U.S. Army Special Operations Command public affairs office at  910-432-6005 (duty hours) or 910-494-1589 (after hours).

---

Sgt. Clinton Keith Ruiz, 22, of Poway, Calif., died Oct. 25 of wounds received during combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan.
Ruiz was a graduate of Murrieta Valley High School of Murrieta Valley, Calif., in 2008. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2009 as a Psychological Operations Specialist.
He was assigned to Alpha Company, 9th Military Information Support Battalion (Airborne), 4th Military Information Support Brigade, Fort Bragg, N.C., in February 2012. Sgt Ruiz deployed to Afghanistan in September 2012.
Ruiz was previously assigned to the 4th Military Information Support Group (Airborne), in 2010 and the 5th Military Information Support Battalion (Airborne), of Fort Bragg, N.C., in 2011. He completed Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., August 2009 and the Basic Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Ga., October 2009.
Ruiz attended the Psychological Operations Advanced Individual Training and Korean Language School at Ft. Bragg, N.C., graduating in August 2010.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal (Campaign Star), Global War on Terrorism Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Parachutist Badge.
Ruiz is survived by his spouse Kira Ortega and son Caleb.

---

Staff Sergeant Kashif M. Memon, 31, of St. Paul. Minn. and Houston, Texas, died Oct. 25 of wounds received during combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan.
Memon was assigned to Alpha Company, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was his first combat deployment to Afghanistan as a Civil Affairs Soldier. His previous two combat deployments were as an Army infantryman from Fort Hood to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and as a Marine Corps infantry squad leader from Marine Corps Base Hawaii to Operation Enduring Freedom.
Memon enlisted in the Marine Corps in Houston, Texas in 2001 and was stationed at Marine Corps
Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay, while deploying to Okinawa, Japan; Pohang, South Korea; Thailand;
Singapore; and Afghanistan. In Oct. 2007, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman and was
stationed at Fort Hood, Tex. and Fort Bragg, N.C.
In 2010, Memon volunteered for and completed Civil Affairs training at Fort Bragg and was
assigned in 2011 to Alpha Company, 96th CA Battalion as a CA Team Civil Affairs Engineer.
Staff Sergeant Memon’s awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement
Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Citation,
Navy Unit Citation, three Good Conduct Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign
Star, Iraqi Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal,
Global War on Terror Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Development Ribbon with '2'
Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
with Two Stars and Army Parachutist Badge. SSG Memon was also a recipient of the Order of the
Spur. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and the Combat Action
Badge.
Memon is survived by his spouse, two sons and expecting a third child.

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Read More

Oct. 27., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed seven insurgents, detained six, located a weapons cache and cleared six improvised explosive devices, and an insurgent died when his IED detonated prematurely, during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Oct. 26.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared three IEDs, one in Waghaz district, one in Ghazni district and one in Gelan district.

Kabul province
Afghan National Police and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Sarobi district. The cache contained two suicide vests.

Khowst province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces killed seven insurgents and wounded one during an engagement in Gurbuz district. The wounded received medical care and was then transferred to a base for questioning.

Laghman province
An insurgent died when his IED detonated prematurely in Mehtar Lam district.

Nangarhar province
Afghan Uniformed Police found and safely cleared two IEDs, one in Jalalabad district and one in Mohmand Darah district.

Nuristan province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces detained five insurgents while investigating an IED in Zurmat district.The IED was safely cleared and the detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

Read More

Al Qaeda's Zawahri calls for kidnap of Westerners

Ayman al Zawahiri (Photo credit: fotosinteresantes)

(Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri has called on Muslims to kidnap Westerners, join Syria's rebellion and to ensure Egypt implements sharia, SITE Monitoring reported on Saturday, citing a two-part film posted on Islamist websites.

The Egypt-born cleric, who became al Qaeda leader last year after the death of Osama bin Laden, spoke in a message that lasted more than two hours.

"We are seeking, by the help of Allah, to capture others and to incite Muslims to capture the citizens of the countries that are fighting Muslims in order to release our captives," he said, praising the kidnapping of Warren Weinstein, a 71-year-old American aid worker in Pakistan last year.

Zawahri's message was first released on Wednesday, SITE said, just two weeks after the cleric issued a filmed statement calling for more protests against the United States over a California-made film mocking the Prophet Mohammad.

In his new message, he called on Muslims to ensure Egypt's revolution continued until sharia law was implemented and urged fellow Muslims to join the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

The release of his message had been delayed, he said, because of the "conditions of the fierce war" in Afghanistan and Pakistan where he said U.S.-led forces had intensified a bombing campaign.

U.S. President Barack Obama, whom Zawahri described as a "liar" and "one of the biggest supporters of Israel", has stepped up the use of unmanned drones to target militants in both countries as well as in Yemen.

"A LICENCE TO KILL"

In a further attack on Western governments and international institutions, Zawahri accused world powers of giving Syrian President Assad "a licence to kill" his opponents.

"The U.N., Kofi Annan and the Arab League give the al-Assad regime one opportunity after another to end the rising of jihadi, popular resistance against his oppression, injustice, corruption and spoiling," SITE reported Zawahri as saying.

Syria's anti-government rebels include Islamist groups that draw on foreign fighters.

"I incite Muslims everywhere, especially in the countries that are contiguous to Syria, to rise up to support their brothers in Syria with all what they can and not to spare anything that they can offer," he said.

Zawahri, who led the Egyptian Islamic Jihad movement before joining al Qaeda, called on President Mohamed Mursi, the country's new Islamist leader, to explain his policies on Israel, Egyptian Christians and sharia law.

Islamist militants want Egypt to introduce sharia and to tear up a 1979 peace treaty with Israel and were dismayed when Mursi said he would appoint a Coptic Christian vice president.

"The battle in Egypt is very clear. It is a battle between the secular minority that is allied with the church and that is leaning on the support of the army, who are made up by (former President Hosni) Mubarak and the Americans ... and the Muslim ummah (nation) in Egypt that is seeking to implement sharia," he said.

from REUTERS
DUBAI | Sat Oct 27, 2012 9:44am BST
(Reporting By Angus McDowall; Editing by Myra MacDonald and Andrew Osborn)

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Afghan police foil deadly suicide blast in northern Afghanistan

Afghan security forces foiled a deadly suicide bomb blast in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan during the first day of Eid.

Provincial security chief Asadullah Shirzad said the suicide bomber was looking to target guests in provincial security commandment and was arrested by Afghan security forces before he detonate his explosives.

Mr. Shirzad said the suspected suicide bomber was arrested on the first day of Eid around 3:30 pm local time while he was looking to enter the guest house of Baghlan security commandment.

He said Afghan security forces had already received intelligence information regarding the bombing attempt by a suspected suicide bomber.

The detained suicide bomber was recognized as Abdullah and was a resident of northern Kunduz province. He is the second the suicide bomber arrested during the past three days in Baghlan province of Afghanistan.

This comes as a suicide bomber on Friday detonated his explosives among the participants of the Eid prayers near a mosque in Maimana city at northern Faryab province of Afghanistan, killing more than 40 people.

In the meantime the detained suicide bomber in Baghlan province told reporters that he was looking to carry out suicide attack in coordination with an Afghan police officer.

He denied to disclose the name of the police officer who was supporting him however he said that he was looking to assassinate provincial security chief of Baghlan province.

The suspected suicide bomber was in police uniform while he was looking to detonate his explosives.

Provincial security chief Asadullah Shirzad said they have started investigations to find out how the suspected bomber achieved police uniform.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Sat Oct 27, 10:20 am

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