Militants detained before launching attacks in Nangarhar

Afghan Intelligence (National Directorate for Security) on Wednesday to detain a group of insurgents who wanted to carry out coordinated attacks in eastern Nangarhar province.

According to a statement released by Afghan National Directorate for Security (NDS), the group included four insurgents were detained by Afghan security forces in this province.

The source further added Afghan security forces seized some explosives from one of the detained insurgents.

This comes as a number of insurgents on Sunday launched coordinate attacks in capital Kabul and a number of other provinces including Logar, Nangarhar and Paktia provinces.

At least 48 people including 36 militants were killed following the clashes between Afghan security forces and militants, which lasted around 18 hours.

Taliban militants group claimed responsibility behind the incident and said the coordinated attacks were launched to retaliate the massacre of civilians in Kandahar province by a US soldier and burning of Holy Quran.

from KHAAMA

Read More

2 killed, 11 wounded in attacks in Iraq

BAGHDAD, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and eleven others wounded Wednesday in separate bomb and gunfire attacks in Iraq, the police said.

In Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, a roadside bomb went off close to a police vehicle on a main road near Samarra city, some 110 km north of the capital Baghdad, killing one policeman aboard and injuring four others including an officer, a provincial police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

In a separate incident, a roadside bomb struck a civilian car travelling near the town of Balad, some 80 km north of Baghdad, killing the driver and wounding three persons aboard, the source said.

Salahudin province is a Sunni-dominated province. Its capital city of Tikrit, some 170 km north of Baghdad, is the hometown of former President Saddam Hussein.

Meanwhile, in Baghdad, two civilians were injured when a roadside bomb detonated at the entrance of Harthiyah district in western the capital, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

In Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, a policeman was wounded when a roadside bomb hit his patrol near the provincial capital city of Baquba, some 65 km northeast of Baghdad, a source from Diyala's operations command anonymously told Xinhua.

In addition, gunmen wounded a government employee in the town of Hibhib, some 20 km northwest of Baquba, the source said.

Also in Diyala, Iraqi security forces carried out search operations across the province during the past 24 hours and arrested nine suspects, including four wanted individuals, the source added.

Violence is still common in the Iraqi cities despite the dramatic decrease since its peak in 2006 and 2007 when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.

Read More

Leslie Halasz Sabo Jr. to be awarded posthumous MOH (+video)

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, April 17, 2012) -- President Barack Obama has announced that Spc. 4 Leslie H. Sabo Jr., a rifleman with the 101st Airborne Division, will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor May 16 for his actions during the Vietnam War.

Sabo is credited with saving the lives of several of his comrades in Company B, 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry when his platoon was ambushed May 10, 1970, near the Se San River in eastern Cambodia. Sabo shielded a comrade from an enemy grenade and silenced a machine-gun bunker before he was killed.

Sabo's widow, Rose Mary Sabo-Brown, and his brother, George Sabo, have been invited to the White House for the Medal of Honor ceremony. President Obama recently telephoned Sabo-Brown to inform her that her late husband would receive the nation's highest award for valor.

"It was a very emotional day," she said. "A very, very emotional day. I couldn't even sleep that night. And when I did fall asleep finally and I woke up the next morning, I went, 'Now wait a minute, did I dream this? Is it really real?'"

"I couldn't be more proud of him," Sabo-Brown said. In her home near New Castle, Pa., Sabo-Brown has set up museum of sorts in tribute to her late husband and his comrades who were killed in Cambodia.

Even though his platoon was ambushed from all sides by a large enemy force, Sabo charged the enemy position, killing several enemy Soldiers. He then assaulted an enemy flanking force, successfully drawing their fire away from friendly Soldiers and ultimately forcing the enemy to retreat. While securing a re-supply of ammunition, an enemy grenade landed nearby. Specialist Sabo picked it up, threw it, and shielded a wounded comrade with his own body - absorbing the brunt of the blast and saving his comrade's life.

Although wounded by the grenade blast, Sabo continued to charge the enemy's bunker. After receiving several serious wounds from automatic weapons fire, he crawled toward the enemy emplacement and, when in position, threw a grenade into the bunker. The resulting explosion silenced the enemy fire, but also ended Specialist Sabo's life. His indomitable courage and complete disregard for his own safety saved the lives of many of his platoon members.

Sabo's unit nominated him for the Medal of Honor, but the paperwork was lost until Tony Mabb, a Vietnam veteran of the 101st Airborne Division and a writer for the "Screaming Eagle" association magazine, came across a thick file on Sabo while on a research trip to the National Archives military repository in College Park, Md.

Mabb contacted his congresswoman, who recommended DOD reconsider a medal of valor for Sabo. Mabb also made contact with Sabo's widow, Rose Mary Sabo-Brown, who lives in New Castle, Pa.

"The Leslie I know would give his life to anybody," she said. "He would. He would give you the shirt off his back. That's the kind of man he was."

(Soldiers magazine reporter Elizabeth M. Collins interviewed Rose Mary Sabo-Brown in Pennsylvania last week and contributed to this article, which is based on a White House release.)

from army.mil
---

a must read wonderful article:
Craig Manson: An American Hero: Sgt Leslie H. Sabo, Jr.
---
virtualwall: http://www.virtualwall.org/ds/SaboLH01a.htm

Related articles

• Leslie H. Sabo Jr. to be awarded posthumous MOH (thisainthell.us)
•  
• Vietnam veteran to be awarded Medal of Honor posthumously (stripes.com)
• Vietnam Vet to be Awarded MoH Posthumously (military.com)
• Vietnam War Hero toReceive Medal of Honor (foxnews.com)
• Soldier to get Medal of Honor 42 years after death (kansascity.com)
• Slain Vietnam Soldier to Get Medal of Honor (theepochtimes.com)
• Pa. soldier in Vietnam War to receive posthumous Medal of Honor (washingtontimes.com)
• Soldier to get Medal of Honor 42 years after death (timesleader.com)
• Medal of Honor: Vietnam Edition (thelexicans.wordpress.com)

Read More

23 militants killed in security operations

PUL-I-ALAM (PAN): Nearly two dozen fighters were killed during combat operations by Afghan and foreign troops in Logar, Nangarhar and Zabul provinces, said officials on Wednesday.

Four militants and six Afghan soldiers were also wounded, while 15 suspects were detained in the operations.

Col. Ahmad Jan Mukhlis, a spokesman for the 203 Thunder Military Corps, said the offensive was conducted in Azra and Charkh districts of Logar by Afghan police, intelligence operatives and soldiers.

The security personnel seized10 rocket launchers, six machine guns, 13 Kalashnikovs, bullets of machine guns and 22 hand grenades, he said.

The governor's spokesman, Din Mohammad Darweesh, confirmed the operation, in which six Afghan soldiers were wounded. He said last night insurgents attacked a convoy of foreign soldiers on the Kabul-Paktia highway and torched a truck.

In eastern Nangarhar province, 10 militants were killed and four others wounded in another joint operation by Afghans and foreign soldiers, said the governor's spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai. The offensive was carried out in the Malala Ghundai area of Sherzad district.

Two top commanders, Saifullah and Bilal, who were planning to attack the poppy eradication campaign by counternarcotics forces, were killed, while another commander Mullah Niazullah was wounded.

In southern Zabul, officials said that eight Taliban fighters were arrested during a NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan troops operations in Shahr-i-Safa district of the province.

District chief, Shadi Khan, also confirmed the arrest of insurgents in Qari Kariz area of the district.
However, Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, said the joint force had arrested ordinary people.

from Pajhwok
by mangal.mustafa

Read More

20 Taliban militants lay down arms in Afghanistan

PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Another group of anti-government militants gave up fighting and joined the government-initiated peace process in Afghanistan's northern province on Wednesday.

"Twenty armed rebels handed over their weapons to authorities and joined the peace process in Deh Salah district of Baghlan province today," provincial police chief Assadullah Shirzad told newsmen in a ceremony to welcome the former fighters.

With joining these people to the peace process, the security will be further improved in Baghlan province, he further said.

It is the second militants group, joining the peace process in a single day on Wednesday.

The previous, also composed of 20 militants laid down arms and resumed normal life in Badakhshan province.

Taliban militants fighting Afghan government and NATO-led forces have yet to make comment.

Read More

Three armed insurgents killed, one wounded and eight others arrested by Afghan National Police

Three armed insurgents killed, one wounded and eight others arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched five joint clearance operations in Kabul, Kunduz, Kandahar, Khost and Paktiya provinces.

As a result of these operations, three armed insurgents were killed, one wounded and eight others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated seven AK-47 assault rifles with 31 magazines, three anti-vehicle mines, 10kg of explosive materials, 3kg of opium and two motorbikes.

During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused two anti-vehicle mines as a result of security operations in Laghman and Paktiya provinces.

In the meantime, two mine planters were killed by their own explosives while they attempted to plant an anti-vehicle mine in the Wazi village, Moqar District of Ghazni province, yesterday.

Read More

Apr.17.,2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces killed one insurgent and captured five suspects in eastern Afghanistan during operations throughout the past 24 hours, April 17.

Ghazni province

Afghan Uniformed Police killed one insurgent armed with an AK-47 as he attempted to charge the police on his motorcycle in Auins district. The body was searched afterward and found to have an AK-47, filled magazines and a communication radio.

Nangarhar province

Afghan National Security and coalition forces detained four insurgents found emplacing improvised explosive devises in Khugyani district. The detainees were enrolled in identification systems and are under custody of AUP.

Khowst province

Coalition forces detained one individual found to be a wanted insurgent in Khowst district. The detainee was brought to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

Read More

R.I.P. - Cpl. Aaron M. Faust

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

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

            Cpl. Aaron M. Faust, 22, Louisville, Ky., died April 15 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

            This incident is under investigation.

            For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at 910-450-6575.

---

Ken Faust and his wife Tess were at home Monday evening, at their house on Bradley Avenue—just south of Eastern Parkway—when they heard a knock on their door and received the news every military family dreads.  Their 22-year-old son, Aaron, had been killed in Afghanistan.

The Marine delivering this devastating news could provide the family with only a few details.  According to the Department of Defense, Cpl. Aaron M. Faust, of Louisville, Kentucky, died April 15 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Like his dad, Aaron was a member of the Okolona Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Ken serves as the post’s Quartermaster; and also as VFW 6th District Jr. Vice Commander.  Aaron’s mother, Tess, is the secretary with the Okolona VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Legislative Department Program Chairman, and an officer in the Ladies 6th District.
The Faust family knows the meaning of the words:  duty, honor, and country.

Aaron graduated from Louisville’s DeSales High School in 2007, and joined the Marine Corps the following November.  After serving an overseas tour in Japan, he was promoted to the rank of corporal in August of 2010, and was initially a food service specialist.  He had just reenlisted for another four year tour of duty in March, and was being reassigned as a clerical specialist.

Cpl. Faust was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

His awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.

Although the Defense Department press office indicates that Cpl. Faust “…died during combat operations on Sunday,” the cause of his death has not been released as of today, and the military says that the incident is “under investigation.”

Today, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear recognized Cpl. Faust’s sacrifice; and will order that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of Cpl. Faust’s interment, for which arrangements are still pending.

Aaron recently posted this, on his Facebook page:
What matters is not the idea a man holds, but the depth at which he holds it.  Death before dishonor.  Family above all.

from Louisville.com

by Thomas McAdam

Read More