2 Pakistani rebels killed in Wardak clash

KABUL (PAN): Two Pakistani militants were killed and as many others were wounded during a clash with US troops in the central province of Maidan Wardak, an official said on Tuesday.

The clash came during an operation in the Band area of Chack district on Monday night, the governor’s spokesman, Ataullah Khogyani, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Meanwhile, the Taliban claimed they had killed two security personnel and injured as many others during an attack on a checkpoint in the district, a claim dismissed by Khogyani.

from Pajhwok
By Hakim Basharat Mar 12, 2013 - 19:00

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Over 20 Tons of Heroin Seized in Afghanistan

MOSCOW, March 12 (RIA Novosti) – Almost 21 tons of heroin have been seized in an operation in eastern Afghanistan , the head of Russia’s Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) said on Tuesday.

“An operation was carried out yesterday in the province of Nangarhar, during which several drug production labs were destroyed and almost 21 tons of heroin seized,” FSKN head Viktor Ivanov said.

He said FSKN officers had taken part in the “unique operation.”

“Twenty-one tons is, in essence, the annual volume of drugs brought into Russia,” Ivanov said.

The Pajhwok Afghan News agency said five heroin producing laboratories were destroyed by security forces during an operation in the Sherzad district of eastern Nangarhar province on Monday. Several people were arrested, the agency said, citing officials.

Some 30,000 Russians die from heroin abuse every year, according to official statistics, accounting for around one-third of all heroin-related deaths worldwide. NGOs estimate that there are up to three million heroin addicts in the country.

The vast majority of the heroin consumed in Russia is from Afghanistan. The United Nations says some 20 percent of the almost 400 tons of heroin produced annually in the war-ravaged state travel through Central Asia before reaching the Russian market.

from RIA Novosti

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Mar. 12., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force killed Taliban leader, Hamza, during an operation in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, yesterday.

Hamza was responsible for coordinating and conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Khugyani district. He specialized in improvised explosive device attacks, and also had a history of involvement in small arms and suicide attacks.

The security force positively identified Hamza engaging in insurgent activity and engaged the armed insurgent, killing him.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

Afghan and coalition forces confirmed today the death of a Taliban leader, Idris Kaka, during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Saturday. Idris Kaka was responsible for directing improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also had a history of kidnappings against the Afghan population. During the operation, the security force positively identified Idris Kaka and his associates conducting insurgent activity. The force engaged the insurgents, killing three.

East

Afghan and coalition security forces confirmed today the arrest of a Taliban leader during an operation in Baraki Barak district, Logar province, yesterday. The insurgent is accused of directing insurgent activity in Baraki Barak district. He is also an influential figure in the Taliban network there, ordering improvised explosive device operations in addition to direct and indirect fire attacks.

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Mar. 12., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained six suspected insurgents, killed two insurgents, found and safely cleared one improvised explosive device and discovered five weapons caches during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, March 11.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Ghazni district.

Coalition forces found multiple IED components during operations in the Ghazni District.

Coalition forces detained a suspected insurgent in the Ghazni district. The suspected insurgent was transported to a base for questioning.

Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces discovered four weapons caches during operations in the Sabari district. The caches consisted of multiple IED making components, two global positioning systems, one recoilless rifle, one grenade launcher and one machine gun.

Afghan and coalition forces detained two suspected insurgents during operations in the Sabari district. The suspected insurgents were taken to a base for questioning.

Afghan and coalition forces detained three suspected insurgents during operations in the Gurbuz district. The suspected insurgents were taken to a base for questioning.

Laghman province
Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents during operations in the Alishing district.

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NATO helicopter crash in Kandahar, five US troops killed

According to local authorities in southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan a NATO helicopter has crashed in Daman district of Kandahar province on Monday.

Provincial governor spokesman Javid Faisal said at least five coalition security forces have reportedly been killed following the incident.

Districts of Kandahar. Panjwai is in central (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He said the helicopter crashed due to bad weather condition and there are no reports regarding insurgents activities behind the crash.

There have been 18 coalition deaths in 2013, including two U.S. service members who were killed Monday by an assailant wearing an Afghan National Security Forces uniform.

from KHAAMA
By Meena Haseeb - 12 Mar 2013, 8:20 am

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ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – Five International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan yesterday.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident.

It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.

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R.I.P. - Tech. Sgt. Larry D. Bunn

DOD Identifies Air Force Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Tech. Sgt. Larry D. Bunn, 43, of Bossier City, La., died March 7 as a result of a non-combat incident at an undisclosed base in Southwest Asia.  He was assigned to the 307th Maintenance Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

            For more information media may contact the Air Force 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Office at 318-529-3024.

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from therepublic.com:

The Air Force 307th Bomb Wing says a 43-year-old airman from Bossier City has died in Southeast Asia, where he was supporting the war in Afghanistan.
Bomb wing spokeswoman Jessica Daurizio says Tech. Sgt. Larry D. Bunn died March 7 of a heart attack unrelated to combat. The Defense Department did not disclose where he was stationed, but says it was a base in Southwest Asia.
He was assigned to the 307th Maintenance Squadron based at Barksdale Air Force Base.

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10 al-Qaida members captured in southern Yemen

Map of Yemen showing Abyan governorate. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ADEN, Yemen, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's pro-government militiamen raided a terrorist cell and captured 10 al-Qaida members on Sunday in Yemen's southern province of Abyan, a tribal chief told Xinhua.

The militiamen destroyed an al-Qaida terrorist cell that was operating in Abyan's Jaar town and planning armed attacks against army posts in the region, the local tribal chief said on condition of anonymity.

"Our tribal fighters stormed an al-Qaida-held site in Jaar town and seized 10 terrorists along with three improvised explosive devices," the tribal source said.

Two of the al-Qaida members were behind an armed attack that targeted a post run by pro-government militiamen last week, according to the tribal chief.

The Yemen-based al-Qaida branch, known locally as Ansar al- Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law), took advantage of a political upheaval in 2011 in Yemen to take over several towns of the southern restive regions.

The militants were targeted by Yemeni security authorities after a U.S.-backed offensive launched in Abyan province months ago routed the militants out of their strongholds they had controlled for nearly one year.

The Yemeni government has beefed up anti-terror operation since Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi took office in February 2012.

from XINHUA
2013-03-11 06:41:52

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