R.I.P. - Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Brown

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Brown, 26, of Columbus, Ohio, died April 3, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained after he was attacked with an improvised explosive device while on a dismounted patrol.

            Brown was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

            For more information related to this release, the media may contact the Fort Carson public affairs at office 719-526-7525 or 719-526-5500.

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more information to follow

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Yemeni warplanes kill 11 al-Qaida militants in south

Yemen division 2012-3-11 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ADEN, Yemen, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni warplanes pounded al- Qaida strongholds in the southern province of Abyan on Thursday morning, killing at least 11 militants, a security official told Xinhua.

The air forces launched two air strikes against the al-Qaida terrorist group in the village of Jabalayn near the insurgents- controlled town of Jaar in Abyan, killing at least 11 militants, including two leading members, the local security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The official said that three militant hideouts were destroyed in the area.

The al-Qaida militants have yet to issue a statement about the raids.

U.S. drones and Yemeni fighter planes have regularly targeted al-Qaida militants in southern Yemeni regions, which were seized by the group in May 2011, killing and injuring scores of terrorists.

The Yemeni army and security forces have recently been attacked by the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in the restive southern regions. Hundreds of government troops were either killed or injured during deadly suicide bombings and fierce battles with al-Qaida insurgents in the province of Abyan during the past two months.

Taking advantage of the one-year-long political conflicts, the resurgent AQAP, locally known as Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law), has taken control of several cities and swathes across the country's restive southern provinces.

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8 Afghan local police forces killed in Farah

According to local authorities in western Farah province, at least 8 Afghan local police forces were killed following an attack by armed insurgents.

The officials further added, the incident took place in Khak-e-Safid distrct on late Wednesday evening.

Provincial police chief Shams-ur-Rahman Zahid confirming the report said, at least 8 members of the Afghan local police forces were killed and 2 others were taken hostages by the armed insurgents.

Mr. Zahid further added armed insurgents ambushed an outpost of the local police forces and the militants were armed with assault rifles.

No group including the Taliban militants have so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

from KHAAMA

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Pakistan: SSP Malir survives suicide attack; 4 killed

KARACHI: Four persons including two policemen were killed while 14 others wounded when a suicide bomber targeted a police official at Malir Halt area of Karachi on Thursday, Geo News reported.

The banned outfit Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed the responsibility of the attack.

According to police sources, a bomber rammed an explosives-laded motorbike into a police Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) at Malir Halt that killed four persons including two policemen while 14 others sustained injuries.

"The attack was against me. I was moving with my squad in Malir Halt district when the explosion took place. I am unhurt, but some of my men have been injured," Rao Anwar, SSP Malir told while talking to Geo News correspondent Zille Haider.

He claimed to have been threatened for a month by "unknown terrorists".

"It was a suicide attack," police official Tahir Naveed told.

"The attacker was killed in the blast and the body in hospital is suspected to be his," he added.

Rescue teams reached the spot and kicked off relief efforts while police and Rangers cordoned off the area.

It is pertinent to mention here that earlier in the morning, 6-8 unidentified armed men gunned down three policemen including an Assistant Sub Inspector at Pir Illahi Bux (PIB) Colony. They intercepted the police mobile SP-0461 and opened fired on the patrolling party.

The incident created panic in PIB colony as markets and other business activates were closed down today.

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Apr.05., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Apr. 5) — An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation in Zharay district, Kandahar province, today.

The leader coordinated the movement of insurgents between Pakistan and Kandahar province. He also recruited new Taliban members and provided them with weapons and ammunition for attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces.

In other ISAF news throughout Afghanistan:

South

In Washir district, Helmand province, an Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation today. The leader planned and directed attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the district. The security force detained two additional insurgents as a result of this operation.

East

An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban facilitator during an operation in Charkh district, Logar province, today. The facilitator provided weapons and explosives to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces.

Finally, in Maidan Shahr district, Wardak province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a Taliban leader today. The leader provides funds to insurgents for weapons and equipment and coordinates attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the district. The security force detained several suspected insurgents as a result of this operation.

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Mali's rebels announce end to military operation: statement

BAMAKO, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) decided on Wednesday to put an end to its military operations as of Thursday.

The Tuareg group "decides unilaterally to proclaim an end to military operations as of Thursday, April 5 at midnight GMT", "following the complete liberation of the territory of Azawad and given the strong demand from international community, especially the Security Council and UN Peace, United States of America, France and the States of the Sub-Region," according to a statement on the movement's website.

The groups "calls on States of the subregion and the international community to ensure the people of Azawad, against all assaults of Mali," the statement said.

The announcement came after the Tuareg rebels of the MNLA on Sunday captured Mali's heritage town of Timbuktu after taking two other important towns of Kidal and Gao. Timbuktu fell into the hands of Tuareg rebels, marking a milestone in their repeated uprisings since the 1960s for an independent Azawad land comprising Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal.

For the first time, the rebels have the three towns under control.

Tuareg rebels apparently took advantage of the coup on March 22, when the junta toppled President Amadou Toumani Toure, citing his failure to provide means for the military to curb the rebellion in the north.

With the fall of the northern towns, Mali's military junta is facing increasing pressure from two fronts: the military offensive by the rebels and the demand by the 15-member West African bloc ECOWAS to hand over power.

On Sunday, the junta reinstated the country's constitution of 1992 to pave the way for a transition leading to the presidential election, without clarifying who would head the transition and when to hold the polls.

Related articles

• Malian Rebels Seize Timbuktu (sgt-jim.blogspot.com)
• Mali rebels bombard Timbuktu (moroccotomorrow.org)
• Islamist group plants flag in Mali's Timbuktu (ctv.ca)
• Islamists, Al-Qaeda gain in Mali (moroccotomorrow.org)

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ISAF commander condemns IED attack in Faryab province

2012-04-CA-009

KABUL, Afghanistan (Apr. 5, 2012) — Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, condemned yesterday's improvised explosive device attack in Maimanah City, Faryab province.

The attack killed three ISAF service members, four Afghan National Security Force members, and six innocent Afghan civilians. The explosion also wounded dozens of other civilians, coalition and Afghan National Security Force personnel.

"Despicable - is the only word to describe the cold, heartless way in which the enemies of peace carried out this attack - detonating an IED in the middle of a large crowd of civilians," Allen said. "My deepest condolences are with all the families of those killed yesterday, and the entire ISAF community prays for the complete recovery of those injured.

"Our partnership with ANSF is resolute, intractable, and will not be deterred by these evil and cowardly attacks of desperation," he added. "We are committed to the long-term partnership with our brave Afghan brothers to help them assume responsibility for the security of the Afghan population."

ISAF remains committed to stopping acts of terror together with Afghan National Security Forces in order to build a secure environment that promotes lasting peace and prosperity for Afghanistan.

Maimana, the capital of Faryab province, Afghanistan ... 3 U.S. soldiers among dead in northern Afghanistan (Wednesday, 04.04.12) ... (Photo credit: marsmet511)

Related articles

• Deaths in northern Afghanistan suicide blast (sgt-jim.blogspot.com)
• 3 U.S. soldiers among dead in northern Afghanistan (mcclatchydc.com)
• Suicide bomber kills 12, including 3 ISAF troops in Afghan northwest (longwarjournal.org)

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Apr.04., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Evening Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – A Provincial Response Company, supported by coalition forces, planned and led an operation to destroy a cache of improvised explosive device components and other weapons in Tulak district, Ghor province, yesterday.

The cache consisted of 12 small-arms weapons, 37 different IED components, 18 ammunition magazines, one mortar sight, six mortar fuses, a quantity of small-arms ammunition, two Afghan police uniforms and 4.5 pounds (2 kilograms) of ammonium nitrate.

Several insurgents were detained and all of the cache’s components were destroyed at the scene.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

In Maiwand district, Kandahar province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a drug cache during a patrol today. The cache consisted of 700 pounds (318 kilograms) of narcotics which were destroyed on site.

Afghan forces, supported by coalition troops, completed a series of operations to disrupt insurgent activity in Khash Rod district, Nimroz province, Sunday. The operations resulted in the detention of multiple insurgents, as well as the seizure of several small-arms weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and 770 pounds (350 kilograms) of dry opium.

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