R.I.P. - Staff Sgt. Scott E. Dickinson, Cpl. Richard A. Rivera Jr., Lance Cpl. Gregory T. Buckley

DOD Identifies Marine Casualties

            The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died Aug. 10 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  These Marines were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

            The Marines’ parent command was 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

            Killed were:

            Staff Sgt. Scott E. Dickinson, 29, of San Diego, Calif.,

            Cpl. Richard A. Rivera Jr., 20 of Ventura, Calif., and

            Lance Cpl. Gregory T. Buckley, 21, of Oceanside, N.Y.

            This incident is under investigation.

            For additional information on these Marines, news media representatives may contact Marine Corps Base Hawaii public affairs office at 808-257-8838.

---

from staradvertiser:
By William Cole
POSTED: 01:35 p.m. HST, Aug 13, 2012
LAST UPDATED: 01:57 p.m. HST, Aug 13, 2012

Three Hawaii Marines were killed Friday in southern Afghanistan on a day when six U.S. Marines apparently were killed by Afghan allies as the number of so-called “green-on-blue” attacks continue to rise.

The Marines were assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force at Kaneohe Bay, officials said.

They were deployed with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

The Marines identified the three as Staff Sergeant Scott E. Dickinson, 29, of San Diego, Calif.; Cpl. Richard A. Rivera Jr., 20 of Ventura, Calif.; and Lance Cpl. Gregory T. Buckley, 21, of Oceanside, N.Y.

Staff Sgt. Scott E. Dickinson

Dickinson was an embarkation chief with Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment and was deployed as a logistics adviser as part of an Afghan National Civil Order Police Garrison Advisory Team.



His personal awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, NATO International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan Medal and a Certificate of Commendation.

Cpl. Richard A. Rivera Jr.

Rivera was a supply noncommissioned officer with Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment and was deployed as a logistics and facilities adviser, also as part of the advisory team.

His personal awards include Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and NATO International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan Medal.

Lance Cpl. Gregory T. Buckley

Buckley was a supply clerk with Headquarters Company, 3rd Marine Regiment and was deployed as a logistics and facilities adviser as part of the advisory team.

His personal awards include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, NATO International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan Medal and a Letter of Appreciation.

The Marines are recommended for the Purple Heart Medal, the Corps said. Officials said the incident is under investigation.

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Pakistan military attack Afghan check posts in Kunar

Districts of Kunar. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to local security officials in eastern Kunar province, Pakistani military attacked Afghan security check posts in central Kunar province early Tuesday morning.

The officials further added the incident took place around 4:00 am local time after Pakistani military forces attacked border security check posts in Dangam district.

Gen. Mohammad Ayoub Hussain Khel chief of the Afghan police forces in eastern zone said Pakistani military started direct shelling over security check posts.

Gen. Hussain Khel further added he visited the area along with a number of the Afghan border protection police forces to respond the cross-border shelling by Pakistan military.

He did not disclose further information regarding the exact number of casualties as a result of the clashes.

In the meantime Mohammad Edris Momand a spokesman for Afghan border protection police forces in the east said the clashes started early Tuesday morning and continued for almost 4 hours.

He also said local residents also went to the area to support Afghan security forces.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Tue Aug 14, 9:45 am

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Aug. 14., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban weapons dealer in Panjwa’i district, Kandahar province, today.

The weapons dealer provided Taliban fighters with weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive device material for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. At the time of his arrest, the weapons dealer was trying to arrange weapons training for insurgents in the province.

The security force also detained two suspected insurgents as a result of this operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban weapons supplier in Chimtal district, Balkh province, yesterday. The weapons supplier provided the machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices used by insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in and around the district. He also emplaced improvised explosive devices along local roads.

South

An Afghan and coalition security force discovered 16 improvised explosive devices and seized more than 1900 kilograms (4,189 pounds) of wet opium during a mission in Now Zad district, Helmand province, today. The force destroyed the IEDs and drugs on site.

East

An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in Watahpur district, Kunar province, Monday. During the mission, the security force engaged a group of armed insurgents with a precision airstrike. After the strike, the force conducted a follow-on assessment and confirmed the strike had killed multiple insurgents. They also confirmed the strike had not harmed any civilians or damaged any civilian property.

In Sabari district, Khost province, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani weapons supplier yesterday. The weapons supplier smuggled assault rifles into the district and attempted to acquire grenades for a planned attack against Afghan and coalition forces. He is also responsible for coordinating multiple attacks against security forces. The security force also detained several suspected insurgents and seized multiple firearms during the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, Sunday. The Haqqani leader directed and conducted numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Logar province. In the days leading up to his arrest, he was attempting to acquire IED components for additional attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also detained three suspected insurgents during the operation.

Afghan and coalition security force officials confirmed today that a Haqqani leader was one of those detained during an operation in Shwak district, Paktiya province Aug 9. The detained Haqqani leader is responsible for numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the region.

Capital

An Afghan security force, support by coalition troops, arrested the senior Taliban leader Mawawi Akbar in Sarobi district, Kabul province, Sunday. Prior to his arrest, Akbar was one of the most senior Taliban insurgents operating in Surobi and was responsible for facilitating the movement of suicide bombers throughout Kabul province.

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Aug. 14., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Aug. 14, 2012) – Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained five, located a weapons cache and cleared six improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 13.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Ghazni district. The cache contained homemade explosives being used to construct improvised explosive devices.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared four improvised explosive devices, one in Andar district, one in Qarah Bagh district and two in Giro district.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces killed two insurgents during a small arms engagement in Muqer district.

Laghman province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Mehtar Lam district.

Nangarhar province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained two insurgents who were plotting an attack in Mohmand Darah district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktika province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained three insurgents during an engagement in Sharan district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Parwan province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Bagram district.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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Afghan police kill 2 suicide bombers in Nimroz province

According to local security authorities in western Nimroz province, Afghan security forces thwarted a suicide bombing plot in this province.

Provincial security chief Gen. Mohammad Musa said two suicide bombers were shot dead by Afghan security forces on Monday night while they were looking to enter Zaranj city.

Gen. Musa further added the two suicide bombers were from Pakistan and were armed with suicide vests.

He also said they were looking to launch suicide attack on provincial government compound.

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

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Tue Aug 14, 2:27 pm

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R.I.P. - Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian, Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke, Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote

DOD Identifies Marine Casualties
            The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died Aug. 10 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  These Marines were assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

            Killed were:

            Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian, 29, of Los Altos Hills, Calif.,

            Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke, 31, of Herndon, Va., and

            Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote, 27, of El Dorado, Calif.

            This incident is under investigation.

            For additional information on these Marines, news media representatives may contact Marine Corps Special Operations Command public affairs office at 910-440-0770.

---

Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian

from PanARMENIAN.Net
August 11, 2012 - 14:04 AMT

- A Camp Pendleton-based special operations captain was one of three Marines fatally shot before dawn Friday, August 10 in Helmand province by an Afghan police officer who had just shared a meal with them, UT San Diego said.

It was the third attack on coalition forces by their Afghan counterparts in a week.

Capt. Matt Manoukian, 29, of Los Altos Hills was killed along with two other yet-to-be-identified special operations troops after an Afghan police commander invited them to a meeting to discuss security issues. The meeting followed the meal, which took place early because of daytime fasting restrictions during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The “green-on-blue” attack occurred in the volatile Sangin district of Helmand province, said U.S. military spokeswoman Maj. Lori Hodge. Sangin was a Taliban stronghold for years and has one of the highest concentrations of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.

Manoukian, the son of two judges, joined the Marine Corps about seven years ago. He was on his fourth combat deployment — including his second in Afghanistan.

-----

from washington.cbslocal:
August 13, 2012 6:45 PM

Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke

WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — The Pentagon says a 31-year-old from northern Virginia was one of three marines killed in Afghanistan last week.

Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke of Herndon, Va., died Friday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Jeschke was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Twenty-nine year-old Matthew P. Manoukian of Los Altos Hills, Calif. and 27-year-old Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote of El Dorado, Calif. were also killed.

-----

Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote

from eldoradohills.news10
Submitted by Paul Janes, News 10 Web Producer
Monday, August 13th, 2012, 1:56pm

EL DORADO, CA -
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the death of Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote of El Dorado.

Mote, 27, was killed Aug. 10 during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion out of Camp Pendleton, California, and served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

A nine-year veteran, Mote joined the Corps in July 2003.

Following boot camp, Mote became a bulk fuel specialist before advancing to an explosive ordinance disposal technician in 2007.

He joined the United States Marine Corps Special Operations Command in August 2009.

Mote's military achievements included a Purple Heart, a Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, a Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons and three Good Conduct Medals.

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Two Foreign, One Afghan Soldier Injured in Green on Blue Attack

Districts of Nangarhar Province. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At least two foreign soldiers and one Afghan National Directorate of Security personnel were injured in another attack carried out by an Afghan policeman in eastern Nangarhar province on Monday, a provincial police spokesman said.

The incident occurred in the Achin district of Nangarhar province as the Afghan soldier was leaving a police checkpoint, Abdul Haq Stanikzai, the provincial police spokesman told TOLOnews.

The attacker then fled the area.

Green-on-blue attacks have increased in Afghanistan recently with 27 attacks carried out by Afghan soldiers on foreign nationals this year, ISAF spokesman General Gunter Katz said in a press conference today.

These types of attacks have caused the death of 22 foreign soldiers and wounded 27 others.

Written by TOLOnews.com
Monday, 13 August 2012 15:18

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18 Armed Taliban Killed, 2 Wounded and 14 Arrested by ANP (Aug.13.2012.)

Publish Date: Aug 13, 2012

18 Armed Taliban Killed, Two Wounded and 14 Arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:
During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched four joint clearance operations in Kabul, Ghazni, Paktiya and Helmand provinces. As a result of these operations, 18 armed Taliban were killed, two wounded and 14 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated 65 kilograms of opium, two motorcycles and some amount of ammunitions and IEDs.

Additionally, Afghan National Police discovered and defused six different types of mines as a result of security operations in Laghman, Kapisa, Baghlan and Kandahar provinces, yesterday.

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained 11 individuals accused of theft, trafficking and using fake documents in areas surrounding of Kabul-City.

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Deadly blast hits Takhar province, district mayor killed

Districts of Takhar Province (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to local authorities in north-eastern Takhar province of Afghanistan, a number of high level government officials were killed following an explosion in this province.

Provincial governor spokesman Faizullah Tawhidi confirming the report said the incident took place in Eshkamesh district after an explosive planted on a roadside went off.

Mr. Tawhidi further added a number high level government officials including district mayor, provincial high peace committee member along with three others were killed following the blast.

No group including the Taliban militants have so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Mon Aug 13, 1:33 pm

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Nigerian forces say kill 20 Islamists in shootout

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigerian security forces killed 20 suspected militants of the Boko Haram sect in a shootout on Sunday as they raided an Islamist hideout in the country's northeast, a security officer said.

One soldier was also killed in the shootout in Maiduguri, the capital of the Borno state, the officer said.

Boko Haram, an Islamist group styled on the Taliban, is waging an insurgency against the government with a view to creating an Islamic state in Nigeria, a country of more than 160 million split roughly equally between Christians and Muslims.

Security forces had intelligence that some members of the group were holding a gathering at a location in Maiduguri, said Colonel Victor Ebhaleme, field operations officer of the military and police mixed Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno.

"When we approached the venue of their meeting point, the terrorists opened fire on the JTF, which led to the killing of 20 terrorists while we lost one soldier and two others sustained injury," he said.

Boko Haram did not comment and it was not possible to independently confirm the report.

The Islamists have killed hundreds in gun and bomb attacks in Nigeria, Africa's top energy producer, since they launched their uprising in 2012.

The violence has centred on the Borno state and other areas of the predominantly Muslim north, although it has spread outwards across central Nigeria and struck the capital Abuja in the past year. Suspected sect members opened fire on Christian worshippers in the central state of Kogi on Monday, killing 19.

A military crackdown on the sect in the past few months has had mixed results, apparently weakening it but also fuelling resentment against President Goodluck Jonathan's government in a poor region that has often felt left out of the country's oil wealth, concentrated in the south.

On Saturday, Nigerian security forces discovered a bomb-making factory in Kano, the north's biggest city.

The death of Boko Haram's leader in police custody in 2009 is largely seen as what triggered the uprising.

from REUTERS
Mon Aug 13, 2012 5:55am GMT

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