R.I.P. - Cpl. Anthony R. Servin

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

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

            Cpl. Anthony R. Servin, 22, of Moreno Valley, Calif., died June 8 while conducting 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 more information media may contact the 1st Marine Division Public Affairs Office at 760-725-8766.

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Servin enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 19, 2008.

This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.

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

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June 09., 2012. - RC-East Operational Update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces killed seven insurgents during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, June 9.

Nangarhar province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces killed seven insurgents during a small arms engagement in Bati Kot district.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

ISAF Regional Command East

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R.I.P. - Pfc. Brandon D. Goodine

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Pfc. Brandon D. Goodine, 20, of Luthersville, Ga., died June 7 in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

            For more information the media may contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office at 910-432-0661/0662 or 910-813-3891.

---

from 11alive.com:

McDonough, GA-  The parents of  Pfc. Brandon D. Goodine, 20, are in the process of bringing his body back to his home town for burial.

According to the Department of Defense, Goodine  died June 7 in Maiwand, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

11Alive's Duffie Dixon met with some of Goodine's family members in McDonough Saturday afternoon.

His aunt, Denise Goodine Hock, said Brandon joined the Army so that his life would have a greater purpose.

"He had his daughter Katie at a young age.  She is three now and he wanted to make sure he made something of his life and of himself.  He has. He is a hero," said Goodine Hock.

Goodine's older brother, Christopher, enlisted with him.  He has been serving in Texas and said he talked to his brother just about a month ago.

"It was so good to hear his voice.  I was scared when he got sent over the Afghanistan, but also so proud of him.  I will miss him for the rest of my days," said Christopher Goodine.

Among others, Goodine leaves behind a wife and his daughter.

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Al-Qaida assassinates senior official in Yemeni capital

SANAA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qaida gunmen assassinated a senior Yemeni official in the capital of Sanaa, an official of the Interior Ministry told Xinhua on Saturday.

"Two al-Qaida gunmen on a motorbike intercepted the convoy of Sheikh Abdulrahem al-Humaikani on Friday afternoon on Khulan Street in the southern neighborhood of the location of the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa. Al-Humaikani was killed and several of his bodyguards were injured," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Sheikh al-Humaikani, a senior member of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh's party, was a high-ranking security official and a member of the local council in the southeastern province of al- Bayda, where al-Qaida militants have strong presence.

Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi described the incident as a "terrorist act" in a letter of condolence to al-Humaikani's family, which was carried by the Defense Ministry's website.

The al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, known locally as Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law) seized parts of al-Bayda's largest city of Radda, some 170 km southeast of Sanaa, in mid- January, but they left the town after reaching a deal with the central government.

Last month, a U.S. drone strike raided a convoy of al-Qaida local leaders in al-Bayda while they were travelling across Radda city. The al-Qaida leaders survived the airstrike but three of their bodyguards were killed.

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13 rebels killed in 24-hour operation: Afghan MoI

KABUL (PAN): The Ministry of Interior said 13 insurgents were killed during joint operations by Afghan and coalition forces in six provinces in the last 24 hours.

The anti-militant operations were conducted by Afghan and foreign troops in Helmand, Zabul, Ghazni, Paktia, Herat and Farah provinces.

A ministry statement said a machine gun, two AK-47 assault rifles, along with eight magazines, 33 heavy shells, 325 bullets, 14 anti-vehicle mines, hand grenades, a vehicle and four motorbikes were also seized.

In southern Helmand, two land mine planters were killed after their concealed bomb went off in the Cestani area on the periphery of Marja district.

However, the Taliban claimed killing 10 policemen and Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers in several provinces.

Their spokesman, Qari Yosuf Ahmadi, said five policemen were killed during a clash in Zabul’s capital Qalat.

While, another Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, said five ANA soldiers were killed in the Khairkot district of Paktia, after their Ranger vehicle struck a roadside bomb.

Meanwhile, governor’s spokesman Farid Ayal told Pajhwok Afghan News that 11 Taliban fighters and a local policeman were killed during a six-hour clash that erupted on Friday in Khas Uruzgan district, in southern Uruzgan province.

But, Ahmadi rejected the claim and said a police commander was among the five killed in the clash.

On the other hand, a suspect allegedly killed four members of a family was arrested in Nimroz, while a man rescued from his kidnappers in northern Kunduz.

The suspect shot dead four people, including two women, along Khashrod-Zaranj highway, before fleeing with their stolen cash and two motorbikes with his friends.

During interrogation the individual confessed to his crime and his case had been referred to the General Attorney Office. 

In another crime -- a person kidnapped for ransom by unidentified gunmen was rescued on Friday during a security operation in Kunduz province.

The victim, a resident of Kabul was working for a non-government organization and was in the Imam Sahib district along with his family, said Syed Sarwar Hussaini, the provincial police spokesman.

from Pajhwok
by Pajhwok reporter on Jun 9, 2012 - 16:42

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3 Taliban bomb-making experts detained in S. Afghanistan: official

English: Cropped version of a larger map to show detail around Lashkar Gah (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Three Taliban bomb- making experts have been detained by Afghan forces in southern Helmand province, an official said on Saturday.

"The personnel of National Directorate of Security (NDS) carried out a special operation in Khushabi area of provincial capital Lashkar Gah city Friday night and captured three Taliban bomb-making experts," a spokesman for NDS or intelligence agency, Shams-ul-Rahman Noori, told reporters here.

Their capturing would significantly disrupt Taliban insurgents efforts to conduct attacks on Afghan and coalition troops by using the roadside bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Noor said.

A handful of weapons and IED making material were also found and sized by NDS forces, he said.

Afghan security forces took full control of security of Lashkar Gah and three districts from NATO and U.S. forces over the past couple of months.

Transition of security responsibilities from NATO forces to Afghan army and police began in July last year and lasts till 2014 when Afghanistan is due to take over the its full security duties from U.S. and NATO forces.

The Taliban insurgent group, which stepped up their attacks on Afghan and NATO-led troops since a spring offensive was launched in May in the war-ravaged country, has yet to make comments.

Taliban militants have used IEDs and suicide bombers in their attacks which also inflicted casualties on civilians.

A woman was killed and three other women seriously injured when an IED went off along a road in Musa Qala district of Helamnd province on Friday.

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Four policemen gunned down in Quetta

QUETTA - At least four policemen were killed when undefined gun men opened fire at them here on Saturday morning.

According to details, two armed motorcyclists shot at policemen while they were patrolling the railway track in the Sariyab Road area.

The firing killed all four policemen on the spot. The attackers managed to flee from the scene after committing quadrupled murder.

The bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta for a postmortem.
Security forces cornered off the area after the firing incident and launched a search operation but no arrest could be made.

It should be mentioned that the Sariyab Road area is considered to be a sensitive and dangerous locality and dozens of people including security personnel and common people have been gunned down in that area in recent months. Locals said they fail to understand why the police and other law enforcement agencies have not taken appropriate security measures to prevent such attacks or at least arrest the outlaws when they flee after committing murders.

The citizens of Quetta have demanded that the district administration, provincial and federal governments find a permanent solution to the daily killings and give security to them.

from thefrontierpost

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R.I.P. - Capt. Scott P. Pace, 1st Lt. Mathew G. Fazzari

DOD Identifies Army Casualties
            The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died June 6, in Qarah Bagh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their helicopter crashed.  They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

            Killed were:

            Capt. Scott P. Pace, 33, of Brawley, Calif., and

            1st Lt. Mathew G. Fazzari, 25, of Walla Walla, Wash.

             For more information media may contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office at 910-432-0661/0662 or 910-813-3891.

            CORRECTION:  June 8, 2012 -- Capt. Pace’s age, 33, is corrected from 39.

---

from fayobserver.com:

By Nancy McCleary

Capt. Scott P. Pace

A helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan killed two Fort Bragg paratroopers on Wednesday, the Pentagon said Friday.

Capt. Scott P. Pace, 33, of Brawley, Calif., and 1st Lt. Mathew G. Fazzari, 25, of Walla Walla, Wash., died from injuries in the crash in Qarah Bagh, according to the Department of Defense.

They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.

The OH-58D Kiowa helicopter was shot down by enemy forces, according to a news release.

Pace was a 2005 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., where he earned a Bachelor of Science in nuclear engineering, the release said.

He was commissioned in the Army as a 2nd lieutenant in May 2005.

Pace attended flight training at Fort Rucker, Ala., where he earned his qualification as a Kiowa Warrior pilot in 2006.

Pace held several positions with the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Drum, N.Y., before being assigned to the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Bragg in October 2010, the release said.

Pace had deployed to Iraq twice before being sent to Afghanistan.

His awards and decorations include two Purple Hearts, an Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, two Iraq Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, the Army Aviation Badge and the Combat Aviation Badge.

1st Lt. Mathew G. Fazzari

Fazzari was a 2010 graduate of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., the release said. He was commissioned into the Army as a 2nd lieutenant in October 2010 and earned his qualification as a Kiowah pilot at Fort Rucker in April 2012, the release said.

He was assigned to Fort Bragg last month and immediately deployed, for the first time, to Afghanistan.

Fazzari's awards and decorations include a Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, the Air Assault Badge, the Army Aviator Badge and a Combat Aviation Badge.

Fazzari is survived by his wife, Tovah, and children, Dominic and Samuel.

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NDS arrests senior Taliban leader and 14 others linked to school poisonings

By LWJ Staff - June 8, 2012 - LongWarJournal

In the wake of the seventh suspected poison attack against a girls' school in Afghanistan's northern Takhar province since mid-April, the Afghan National Security Directorate (NDS) yesterday announced the arrest of 15 suspects linked to the attacks. NDS spokesman Lutfullah Mashal said that officials have arrested Qair Khalilullah, the Taliban's deputy shadow governor for Takhar province; northern Taliban commander Noor Agha; and a member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) named Mullah Yaqub, for their roles in the poison attacks, according to Pajhwok News.

Also among those arrested are least three women; two of them are school students in Takhar, and the other is the wife of a librarian who worked at the Qurloq High School in Kunduz province and who was also arrested in connection to the poison attacks. Mashal indicated that one of the two school students arrested had been paid 50,000 afghanis ($1,035) from the Taliban to poison the drinking water in her school.

In addition to making the arrests, investigators confiscated unidentified poisonous materials, a pistol, 12 kilograms of unknown explosives, and communications equipment that were in possession of the suspects. The NDS operation that resulted in the arrests took place between June 3 and June 5.

Mashal directly accused Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI) of supporting the Taliban groups that have launched the series of poison attacks and caused apprehension among the residents of Takhar since the first suspected poisoning occurred there on April 17. The latest suspected poisoning occurred on June 6 at a girls' school in the Rustaq district of Takhar province.

Mashal identified two local Taliban groups, the Jandullah and Mahazullah fronts, as part of the larger Qari Khalil network that had carried out the poison attacks on behalf of the Haqqani Network and the ISI.

"Because Taliban will have less credibility in the face of society, they don't claim responsibility, but we have proven documents showing this is the job of the insurgents, Mashal said, according to TOLOnews. "Jandullah and Mahazullah fronts and Taliban group are behind these poisonings," he stated.

The arrests follow at least seven suspected poison attacks at girls' schools in Takhar province since April that have left hundreds of students sick. Prior to the arrests, Takhar Member of Parliament Mariam Kofi said she believed the poison attacks were being planned outside of Afghanistan, specifically in Pakistan.

"These cases have been planned in neighboring countries particularly Pakistan, as you better know, Taliban and al Qaeda have been trained well," Kofi told TOLOnews on May 29.
Some Afghan officials involved in the investigation were not convinced the attacks in Takhar actually involved poisonous or toxic substances.

"So far no evidence or any traces of any kind of poison or gas have been found," Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sayed Edayat Hafiz told reporters in late May.

Additionally, members of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) who had clinically tested samples taken from the schools reported they could not find any traces of poisons or other toxic material. Poison attacks are usually attributed to unknown "toxic powders," poisonous gas, or poisoned/contaminated drinking water.

But during the June 6 press conference in Kabul, Afghan Public Health Minister Dr. Suraya Dalil claimed that investigations had indeed discovered that an unknown powder had been used to poison the female students; and symptoms included breathing problems, headaches, and vomiting.
Below is a timeline of the suspected poison attacks against girls' schools in northern Takhar province this year:

• June 5, 2012: As many as 60 schoolgirls were believed to have been poisoned at a school in the Rustaq district of Takhar province. Takhar government officials claimed that at least 11 suspects including a "group leader" had been arrested by local security forces for their role in the series of poison attacks in northeastern Afghanistan.

• June 3, 2012: At least 65 schoolgirls were poisoned at the Nahid Shahid high school in Takhar province, Farkhar district. Local officials said at least four suspects, including a Pakistani woman, have been detained in connection to the poisoning of schoolgirls in Takhar. This is the sixth time that the schools have been poisoned in northeastern Takhar recently.

• June 2, 2012: Two dozen schoolgirls -- between seven and 18 years old -- were believed to have been poisoned at the Bashir Abad School in Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province, and sent to local hospitals for treatment.

• May 29, 2012 : Local authorities in Takhar province believed that between 74 and 120 schoolgirls had been poisoned early Tuesday morning at the Aahan Draaw girls' school.

• May 27, 2012: Hospital officials treated at least 40 schoolgirls from Bibi Hajera High School in Takhar's capital city of Taloqan after they had fallen ill, apparently from being poisoned. The all-female school had suffered a poisoning attack a few days prior.

• May 23, 2012: Eighty girls were evacuated from the Bibi Hajera High School in the 5th police district of Taloqan in Takhar province and treated at a local hospital along with three school teachers and a staff member after falling ill from an apparent poison attack.

• April 17, 2012: Afghan officials in Takhar province announced that dozens of schoolgirls had fallen ill after consuming poisoned drinking water at the Dabiristan girls high school in the Rustaq district of Takhar province. Subsequent test results of the suspected poison drinking water have proved inconclusive.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/06/nds_arrests_senior_t.php#ixzz1xIEfglsS

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• NDS arrests senior Taliban leader and 14 others linked to school poisonings (longwarjournal.org)

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11 militants killed in operations in Afghanistan: gov't

KABUL, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Up to 11 Taliban militants were killed in cleanup operations in different Afghan provinces within the past 24 hours, the country's Interior Ministry said on Saturday.

"Afghan police, army, intelligence agency and NATO-led Coalition Forces launched eight joint cleanup operations in Helmand, Zabul, Ghazni, Paktika, Herat and Farah provinces, killing 11 armed Taliban insurgents and detaining two others over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement.

They also found and seized weapons, the statement said, without saying if there were any casualties on the side of security forces.

The Taliban insurgent group, which announced the launching of a spring offensive from May 3 against security forces, has not to make comments yet.

The Afghan forces and some 130,000 NATO-led coalition troops have intensified cleanup operations against Taliban and other militants throughout the country recently.

Records kept by Xinhua, based on figures released by Interior Ministry, reveal that around 400 insurgents have been killed, 120 wounded and nearly 450 others detained since May 1 across the insurgency-hit country.

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