13 Taliban killed in Parwan operation

Districts of Parwan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

CHARIKAR/GHAZNI CITY (PAN): Over a dozen Taliban fighters were killed on Thursday during an operation by the security forces in central province of Parwan, officials said.

Thirteen Taliban fighters were killed and four others wounded in the operation carried out by Afghan forces, backed by NATO air cover, in the Sya Gard district of Ghorband valley, governor’s spokesperson Roshna Khalid told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The Owkan, Qamchaq and Dashtak areas of the district were freed from Taliban presence during the operation, launched two days ago, said district chief Mohammad Sayed Siddiqui.

But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed they killed eight Afghan soldiers and injured several others during the two-hour clash in the Wazghar area of the district.

During the clash foreign troops bombed the area but there was no casualties on Taliban fighters, he added.

Separately, security personnel seized an explosives-laden car on Wednesday in a market in the district, but none detained in connection with the incident, said the spokeswoman.

In southern Ghazni province, 10 people were injured on Wednesday evening after Taliban fired rockets landed in a bazaar in Maqur district, said governor’s spokesman Sabawoon.

Traders were among the victims, said a shopkeeper Akhtar Mohammad, and he urged Taliban not to harm innocent civilians.

However, Taliban spokesman Mujhaid claimed they attacked the Provincial Reconstruction Team building in the district -- killing three Afghan soldiers.

from Pajhwok
by Farid Tanha & Saifullah Maftoon on Jun 28, 2012 - 13:39

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12 armed insurgents killed, 3 wounded and 28 others arrested by ANP

Publish Date: Jun 28, 2012

12 armed insurgents killed, three wounded and 28 others arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched nine joint clearance operations in Kabul, Kandahar, Baghlan, Sar-e-Pul, Helmand, Zabul, Paktika and Farah provinces.

As a result of these operations, 12 armed insurgents were killed, three wounded and 28 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated 519 kilograms of opium, 92 kilograms of crystal, 200 heavy rounds, 3400 kilograms of chemical materials, nine different types of mines and one motorcycle.

During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused four anti-vehicle and remote control mines as a result of security operations in Faryab and Maidan Wardak provinces.

 

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained 11 individuals accused of theft, seizing government properties and assault in the Istalif, 8th, 15th and 17th Districts of Kabul-City.

The ANP encourages all citizens to report suspicious activities and criminal acts

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Hand-grenade attack injures 3 policemen in Yemen's Aden

ADEN, Yemen, June 28 (Xinhua) -- At least three policemen were injured when unknown armed men hurled two hand-grenades at a government building in Yemen's southern port city of Aden Thursday morning, a security official said.

A group of unidentified assailants suspected of belonging to an armed faction of separatist Southern Movement threw two home-made grenades on the headquarters of the local government in Mualla district in Aden, the local security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"Police troops stationed around the government building were attacked by grenades, injuring three policemen," the security official said.

"The unknown gunmen managed to escape after a short shootout with police troops," he added.

Local residents said that "two huge blasts were heard nearby the local council building in Mualla district. Several armored vehicles were deployed instantly across the neighborhood."

"Police cordoned off two main roads and set up checkpoints to search for suspects," they told Xinhua.

Earlier this week, the Yemeni police forces shot dead three southern activists during a pro-secession protest in Aden, which is a main stronghold of youth activists demanding independence for the south.

North and South Yemen unified peacefully in 1990, but the relationship deteriorated in 1994. Calls for separation in the country's southern regions were renewed in 2007.

from XINHUA
2012-06-28 16:21:04

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Bombs kill 13 in Iraq, wound more than 50

(Reuters) - Three bombings in and around Baghdad killed 13 people and wounded more than 50 on Thursday, hospital sources and police said, the latest in a wave of attacks to raise fears of a return to widespread sectarian violence in Iraq.

In the deadliest of Thursday's attacks, at least eight people were killed and 30 wounded when a bomb in a parked car exploded at the entrance of a Baghdad market in the mainly Shi'ite Muslim district of Washash, hospital sources and police said.

A separate car bomb attack in Taji, a town 20 km (12 miles) north of the capital, killed four and wounded 20 in the early hours of the morning, police said. The bomb in the mainly Sunni town was targeting a government building, which was severely damaged.

A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol killed one and wounded five in Abu Dsheer, a Shi'ite area in southern Baghdad, police said.

Violence in Iraq has fallen since a peak in 2006-07, but insurgents remain capable of lethal attacks.

More than 150 people have been killed in June across the country in a spike in attacks targeting mainly Shi'ite pilgrims and shrines.

Iraq's Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish factions have been locked in political disputes since the last U.S. troops withdrew in December, aggravating existing tensions.

(Reporting by Kareem Raheem, Writing by Sylvia Westall; Editing by Alessandra Rizzo)

from REUTERS
BAGHDAD | Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:43am BST

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Afghan villagers fighting Taliban militants killed in Ghazni

According to local authorities in eastern Ghazni province an unknown gunmen shot dead five local residents of Andar district in this province who resisted to fight the Taliban militants.

Provincial governor spokesman Fazal Mohammad Sabawoon confirming the report said the assailant militant was killed in cross fire.

Mr. Sabawoon further added the assailant militant had disguised himself among the local residents in Andar district and assassinated five people.

According to reports the deceased individuals started to resist fighting the Taliban militants around two months ago and forced Taliban militants to flee the area.

Taliban militants group claimed responsibility behind the assassination of the local residents and said one of their fighters opened fire on them from Badano village.

In the meantime reports suggest that a number of Taliban representatives have started negotiations with the local residents who are fighting against the Taliban militants.

Local residents in Ghazni province said they have started fight against the Taliban militants to reopen schools, clinics and resume other social activities which were blocked by Taliban fighters. They also said that no one has motivated them for the action.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Wed Jun 27, 7:08 pm

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Pakistani Taliban release video of beheaded Pakistani soldiers

By Bill Roggio - June 28, 2012 - LWJ


 The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan has released video showing the remains of 17 Pakistani soldiers who were beheaded after being captured and executed during fighting in the northwestern district of Dir just three days ago.

The graphic video, which was obtained by The Long War Journal, was sent to journalists by Ihsanullah Ihsan, a spokesman for the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan.

The videotape includes a statement by Hakeemullah Mehsud, the leader of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan. Hakeemullah promises that the Taliban will continue to fight the Pakistani military until the government enforces sharia, or Islamic law, and stops supporting the US in the region.

In the video, the Taliban show the heads of 17 Pakistani soldiers displayed on a white sheet; the Taliban claim that 18 soldiers were killed during the fighting. The Taliban fighters are standing around the gruesome display, holding weapons as the camera pans back and forth to show the soldiers' remains. The Taliban then show the military identification cards of the slain soldiers.

The 17 soldiers were killed after more than 100 Taliban fighters crossed the border from Kunar province in Afghanistan and attacked the Pakistani troops. Sirajuddin Ahmad, a spokesman for the Malakand Taliban, which operates under the command of Mullah Fazlullah, initially claimed credit for the attack and said 17 soldiers were killed.

"Our fight will continue until the establishment of sharia law in Pakistan .... We will fight whoever tries to stand in our way," Ahmad told Reuters the day after the battle.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/06/pakistani_taliban_re_3.php#ixzz1z5FAXadz

Related articles

• Taliban behead 7 Pakistani soldiers: report (longwarjournal.org)
• Taliban release video of 17 beheaded Pakistani soldiers (khaama.com)

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June 28., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader during an operation in Kandahar district, Kandahar province, today.

The apprehended Taliban leader directed a cell of insurgents during multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and was a specialist in the use of improvised explosive devices.

The security force detained multiple suspected insurgents and seized several small-arms weapons and ammunition during the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

An Afghan and coalition security force seized more than 450 kilograms (1,000 pounds) of opium during an operation to apprehend a Taliban leader in Now Zad district, Helmand province, today. The leader directs attacks against Afghan National Security Forces and acts as a Taliban enforcer in the district. The security force detained numerous insurgents and seized multiple AK-47s during the operation.

East

In Sabari district, Khost province an Afghan and coalition security force detained a Haqqani leader today. The leader planned and coordinated attacks and distributed weapons and improvised explosive device components throughout the region. Prior to his apprehension, the leader coordinated the delivery of explosives to be used in insurgent attacks.

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R.I.P. - Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Leach

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Leach, 29, of Ferndale, Mich., died June 26, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 1/334th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 104th Training Division (Leader Training), Fraser, Mich.

            For more information the media may contact 104th Training Division public affairs office at 360-607-5261.

---

from ferndale.patch.com:
By Jessica Schrader,June 27, 2012
 

Ferndale Soldier Dies in Afghanistan

Cause of death unknown for Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Leach, 29, who died Tuesday in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

A 29-year-old soldier from Ferndale died Tuesday while on duty in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense confirmed on Wednesday.

Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Leach, of Ferndale, died June 26 in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Leach was assigned to the 1/334th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 104th Training Division (Leader Training), based in Fraser.

Major Alex Johnson, public affairs officer for the 104th Training Division, said Leach was found unconscious and unresponsive on the floor of the facility where he was stationed and did not recover.

"The cause of death is not yet determined," Johnson said.

Leach joined the military in 2003 and served on active duty until 2008, including two tours in Iraq - one from 2005 to 2006 and another from 2007 to 2008, Johnson said. He then went into the Army Reserves and this was his first deployment from the Reserves.

Leach is survived by a wife and son, Johnson said.

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