R.I.P. - Lance Cpl. Joshua E. Witsman

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

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

            Lance Cpl. Joshua E. Witsman, 23, of Covington, Ind., died May 30 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

            This incident is under investigation.

            For additional background information, news media representatives may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at 760-725-8766.

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from utsandiego.com:
Written by Gretel C. Kovach
2:31 p.m., June 4, 2012 Updated 3:27 p.m.

A Camp Pendleton Marine was killed in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced today.

Lance Cpl. Joshua E. Witsman, 23, of Covington, Ind., died Wednesday in Helmand province in support of combat operations with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.

The infantry battalion deployed to the Musa Qalah and Now Zad areas of the province in February.

Witsman’s death is under investigation, the Defense Department said.

One of the infantryman's favorite quotations was "God created man, Sam Colt made them equal," according to his Facebook page.

Witsman enlisted in the Marine Corps on Feb. 17, 2009, the 1st Marine Division said. He died on his second deployment to Afghanistan.

His decorations include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze star devices, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star device, and the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.

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Second ranking Al Qaeda chief likely killed in Pakistan

Abu Yahya al-Libi, one of al-Qaeda’s top strategists and seen as the most prominent figure in the network after leader Ayman al Zawahri, may have been killed in a drone strike in northwest Pakistan, the Pakistani intelligence officials said on June 5.

If his death is confirmed it would be the biggest blow to al Qaeda since U.S. special forces killed Osama bin Laden in a secret raid in Pakistan in May 2011.

“This would be a major blow to ‘core’ al-Qaida, removing the No. 2 leader twice in less than a year,” said a senior U.S. official with access to classified reports from Pakistan, where officials from both countries were working to ascertain Libi’s fate.

US officials confirmed to The New York Times that Al-Libi had been the target of the missile attack in North Waziristan, a Taliban and al-Qaeda stronghold along the Afghan border, but could not say whether he had survived.

“People are looking very closely to see whether he’s still alive,” a US official told the New York Times.

“It’ll take some time for people to gain a high level of confidence that he’s dead. But he’s number two in al-Qaeda, and this would be a major blow.”

Abu Yahya is a Libyan militant who has appeared in al Qaeda promotional video messages and once escaped from a U.S.-run prison in Afghanistan.

Reports from Pakistan said nearly 30 people were killed during the sequence of strikes, including four suspected militants on Saturday, ten suspected militants on Sunday, and 15 people in the strike in which Abu Yahya was targeted.

from KHAAMA
By Khushnood Nabizada - Tue Jun 05, 1:17 pm

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Two Australian soldiers and a civilian interpreter injured in Afghanistan

Defence said this afternoon they were struck by insurgent small arms fire during a partnered Afghan National Security Forces and Special Operations Task Group mission in Helmand Province yesterday.

According to Defence the three personnel were wounded in separate engagements during the 14-hour mission against a drug processing facility in the north of the province.

Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Ash Power said the multiple incidents highlighted the effectiveness of the casualty care practices within Afghanistan.

“The team on the ground treated their mates and organised a rapid evacuation from the battlefield by helicopter for each of the three incidents,” Lieutenant General Power said.

“On arrival at a nearby ISAF medical facility, they were assessed, treated and most importantly stabilised by a team of medical specialists.”

Once stable, the three wounded personnel were transferred to a medical facility, where they each underwent surgery.

Following treatment, the interpreter and one of the Australian soldiers were reported to be in a satisfactory condition and will now undertake a period of rest and recovery.

The second Australian soldier remains in a serious condition but is reported to be stable and responding well. It is likely he will move to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for further treatment in the coming days.

The wounded soldier’s families have been notified by Defence and are currently receiving support.

Lieutenant General Power said operations of this type disrupted the insurgent drug trade and reduced the finances used by the insurgency to sustain attacks on ISAF and Afghan National Security Forces.

“During the mission, the partnered Afghan and Australian force were engaged repeatedly by multiple insurgents,” Lieutenant General Power said.

“The partnered force fought through each of these engagements and captured large amount of processed opium, high-grade Poppy seed, drug processing equipment and several caches of weapons and explosives.”


from heraldsun.com.au
By Alison McMeekin - The Daily Telegraph - June 05, 2012 6:16PM

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2 Taliban leaders killed following NATO airstrike in Ghazni

English: Map of the districts of Ghazni province of Afghanistan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At least two Taliban leaders were killed following a joint military operation by Afghan and coalition security forces in eastern Ghazni province.

 NATO-led International Security Assistance Force following a press release on Tuesday announced, Afghan and coalition forces conducted a security operation to detain two Taliban leaders in Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani district, Ghazni province, yesterday.

The source further added, one was the senior Taliban leader in Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani and Ghazni districts. He led an improvised explosive device cell and conducted multiple attacks against coalition and Afghan security forces throughout the region. The second Taliban leader directed the placement of IED’s against coalition and Afghan forces throughout the district.

During the operation the security force requested a precision airstrike. After the operation, the security force conducted a follow-on assessment of the area and confirmed both Taliban leaders had been killed, but no civilians had been injured and no civilian property had been damaged.

In a separate operation Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, detained a Taliban leader in Kandahar district, Kandahar province, ISAF said following the statement adding that the leader directed the placement of improvised explosive devices and coordinated the delivery of weapons and explosives to insurgents throughout the district. During the operation, the security force detained multiple suspected insurgents and confiscated several AK-47’s and other weapons.

In Zharay district, Kandahar province, an Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader today. The leader was responsible for multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and transported explosives and weapons to other insurgents throughout the province. During the operation, the security force detained two suspected insurgents.

 Anti-government armed militant groups yet to comment regarding the reports.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Tue Jun 05, 11:15 am

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R.I.P. - Spc. Gerardo Campos

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

            Spc. Gerardo Campos, 23, of Miami, Fla., died June 2 in Maiwand, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

            For more information the media may contact I Corps public affairs office at 253-477-3048 or 253-370-9861.

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from miami.cbslocal.com:

MIAMI (CBS4) – Family and friends are mourning the loss of a South Florida soldier who died after his unit was attacked with small arms fire in Afghanistan.



Spc. Gerardo Campos, 23, died Saturday in Maiwand, Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  He leaves behind a wife and 10 month old daughter.

Long before Spc. Campos died serving his country, his family knew him as a hero.  Campos grew up in Homestead, one of five children.

“He was just a good man, honest man, good man brave man,” said sister, Erica Campos.   “He was everything- everything you can think of – superhero, friend, father, best brother,” said Eduardo Campos, the youngest of the 5 siblings.

Gerardo taught his younger brother to play football and wrestled with his sisters.  Erica Campos said he taught her to be tough.  And when he joined the Army, fellow soldiers looked up to him too.

“He always did say that I have to be strong for them, show them not to be scared and I know that’s what he did,” said Erica.

“If anybody would get to know him, they’d be honored to know him,” said Eduardo. “I know he went down serving his country and I’m very proud of him and now it’s up to me and my older brother to take care of his little daughter.”

His family said his wife and daughter were the loves of Campos’ life.  His wife was getting ready to send a present for his first Father’s day.   Now, they will all teach Campos’ daughter to be proud of her dad.

“He left with honor, a brave soldier,” said Erica. “He fought for us. He gave his life for us”
Spc. Campos enlisted in the United States Army in March 2010

“A never-say-never type of attitude with a go-getter personality, he was a friend you could always count on,” said Knight. “Spc. Campos was the wind beneath the wings of his platoon. He motivated his fellow Soldiers and believed in their ability to rise to the occasion, regularly pushing them beyond their limits. Spc. Campos had a level of maturity far beyond his age and displayed the potential to become a future Sergeant Major in the Army.”

Spc. Campos was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Army officials say his awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal,  the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the NATO Medal, and the Parachutist Badge.

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June 04., 2012. - RC-East Operational Update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces killed three insurgents and detained six suspects during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, June 4.

Logar province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces killed three insurgents and detained six during an engagement in Charkh district. The detained suspects were found with military equipment in the vicinity of the engagement and were transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

ISAF Regional Command East

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

KABUL, Afghanistan (JUN 5) — Afghan and coalition forces conducted a security operation to detain two Taliban leaders in Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani district, Ghazni province, yesterday.

One was the senior Taliban leader in Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani and Ghazni districts. He led an improvised explosive device cell and conducted multiple attacks against coalition and Afghan security forces throughout the region.

The second Taliban leader directed the placement of IED’s against coalition and Afghan forces throughout the district.

During the operation the security force requested a precision airstrike.

After the operation, the security force conducted a follow-on assessment of the area and confirmed both Taliban leaders had been killed, but no civilians had been injured and no civilian property had been damaged.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South
An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, detained a Taliban leader in Kandahar district, Kandahar province, today. The leader directed the placement of improvised explosive devices and coordinated the delivery of weapons and explosives to insurgents throughout the district. During the operation, the security force detained multiple suspected insurgents and confiscated several AK-47’s and other weapons.

In Zharay district, Kandahar province, an Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader today. The leader was responsible for multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and transported explosives and weapons to other insurgents throughout the province. During the operation, the security force detained two suspected insurgents.

East
An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to detain a Haqqani leader in Khost district, Khost province, today. The Haqqani leader is suspected of planning the attack against Forward Operating Base Salerno on June 1. He is also an explosives expert suspected of building the vehicle born improvised explosive device the insurgents detonated at the Salerno gate. During the operation, the security forces detained multiple suspected insurgents.

In Waygal district, Nuristan province, Afghan and coalition forces conducted a security operation yesterday. During the operation, the security force was attacked by insurgents. The security force returned fire and requested a precision airstrike. After the operation, the security force conducted a follow-on assessment of the area and confirmed several insurgents had been killed, but no civilians had been injured and there had been no damage to civilian property.

An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to detain a Haqqani leader in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, today. The leader supplies insurgents with weapons and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the district. During the operation, the security force detained multiple suspected insurgents.

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3 mine planters arrested and 2 civilians killed in Uruzgan province

Publish Date: Jun 04, 2012

Three mine planters arrested and two civilians killed in Uruzgan province

Afghan National Police arrested a mine planter while he attempted to plant explosive materials in a motorbike in the 3rd District of Farah City, capital of Farah province, yesterday.

In a separate report, Afghan National Police arrested two mine planters while they attempted to plant a remote control mine in the Madina village, Asad Abad City, capital of Kunar province, yesterday.

In the meantime, Afghan National Police discovered and defused a roadside mine in the main square of Khas Kunar District of Kunar province.

Additionally, an anti-vehicle mine which was placed by enemies of peace and stability hit a civilian vehicle in the Zab Manda region, Trinkot City capital of Uruzgan province, yesterday.

As a result, two civilians were killed and two others were wounded.

Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs condemns this inhumane and cowardly act of the enemies of peace and stability and prays for a quick recovery of those injured and expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

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Yemeni army kills 15 al-Qaida militants in restive south

ADEN, Yemen, June 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 15 al-Qaida militants were killed Sunday evening by the Yemeni army in the southern province of Abyan, a government official said.

The armed forces shelled an al-Qaida-held site near Jaar town in Abyan, killing at least 15 terrorists at the scene, the local government official told Xinhua on condition anonymity.

Scores of al-Qaida fighters fled their sites in western Jaar, as the armed forces advanced toward the besieged town, the government official said.

About eight army soldiers were critically injured during the confrontations with al-Qaida militants at the center of Abyan's capital Zinjibar, according to an army commander.

"Masked fighters of the al-Qaida group sneaked into our site and fired more than four grenades that seriously injured several soldiers," he said.

"Fierce fighting is still taking place between the two sides with explosions ranging out across Zinjibar's neighborhoods," he added.

The Yemeni government troops have waged an intensive military campaign, with support of the United States and Yemen's oil-rich neighbor Saudi Arabia, against several bastions of the al-Qaida terrorist group in Abyan province since last month.

The offensive aimed at recapturing several southern towns and cities seized by the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) during last year's political chaos.

The Yemeni authorities promised to assemble reinforcements of the elite Republican Guards and counter-terrorism troops to push the al-Qaida militants out of Jaar town and Zinjibar, the two strongholds of the AQAP.

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British soldier killed during rescue operation in S. Afghanistan

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The combined Afghan and NATO-led forces launched an operation against Taliban in Helmand province 555 km south of capital Kabul which led to the rescue of an Afghan police officer but a British soldier was killed during the operation, a local official said.

"Taliban militants kidnapped the deputy to a police checkpoint in Nahr-e-Saraj district on Sunday but today Afghan and NATO-led forces launched a rescue operation during which the kidnapped police officer named Abdul Wali was rescued but a British soldier was killed," advisor to the provincial governor Abdul Ali Shamsi told Xinhua.

He also said that another British soldier was injured and Abdul Ali is safe and sound.

However, he did not say if any militants were killed during the operation, saying the militants have fled the area.

More than 9,500 British soldiers have been stationed in Afghanistan with majority of them in Helmand province within the framework of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force ( ISAF) to help stabilize security in the conflict-ridden country.

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other sources said: "The Ministry of defence said the soldier from 3rd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, was killed by small arms fire while on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province."

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