4 killed, 5 injured in roadside bomb blasts in Afghanistan

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

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Up to four people were killed and five others injured in separate roadside bombings in Afghanistan on Tuesday, authorities said.

"Three civilians were killed when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in Luchak area of Nad Ali district, Helmand province early Tuesday morning," a provincial government spokesman, Ahmad Zarak, told Xinhua.

He said as the police forces arrived in the area to respond they found another roadside bomb or Improvised Explosive Device ( IED) in the area.

"Unluckily, as the police forces were defusing the IED the explosive detonated leaving a policeman dead and two policemen wounded," Zarak said, blaming Taliban insurgents for the attacks.

In addition, three civilians were wounded in an IED explosion along a main road in Nangarhar province, 120 km south of Kabul earlier Tuesday.

The Taliban militant group, who have been waging an insurgency of more than one decade, have often attacked Afghan and NATO-led forces with IEDs and roadside bombs but the lethal weapons also inflict casualties on civilians.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since the militant group launched an annual spring offensive dubbed "Al-Farooq" from May 3 against Afghan and NATO-led troops stationed in the country.

Two Afghan security forces were killed and 15 people including 14 civilians were wounded in Taliban suicide car bombing in Helmand's provincial capital Lashkar Gah on Monday afternoon.

from XINHUA

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U.S. citizen on al-Qaida wanted list arrested by Yemeni security forces

ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- An American who is believed to be linked to the al-Qaida group was arrested by the Yemeni security forces in the country's restive southeastern province of Shabwa on Monday, a police officer told Xinhua.

A patrol of the police forces detained the American who appeared on a wanted blacklist by the country's security authorities in downtown Ataq, the provincial capital of Shabwa, and transferred him with a military helicopter to the capital Sanaa, the police officer said on condition of anonymity.

The captured U.S. national was a Muslim and had three passports in his possession -- two American and one German, according to the officer.

"The U.S. citizen was arrested while having a meal in a hotel, but his entry into Shabwa province, was unclear and suspicious," the officer said.

The security authorities suspected the American might have links with terrorists in Shabwa, the ancestral homeland of the slain U.S.-Yemeni cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki, al-Qaida's most dangerous English-speaking propagandist in Yemen, the source added.

The Yemeni government troops have launched an intensive military campaign with the support of the United States and Yemen 's oil-rich neighbor Saudi Arabia to uproot the al-Qaida militants in the southern regions.

from XINHUA

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Oct. 09., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces located a weapons cache and cleared six improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Oct. 8.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Ghazni district. The cache contained 14-20 kilogram barrels of homemade explosives.

Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared two improvised explosive devices in Qarah Bagh district.

Khowst province
Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Shamal district.

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

Logar province
Afghan National Police found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Pul-E Alam district.

Nangarhar province
Afghan Uniformed Police found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Shinwar district.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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R.I.P. - Warrant Officer Joseph L. Schiro, Staff Sgt. Justin C. Marquez

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

            They died Oct. 6 in Chak district, Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of gunshot wounds suffered while on dismounted patrol.

            Killed were:

            Warrant Officer Joseph L. Schiro, 27, of Coral Springs, Fla., and

            Staff Sgt. Justin C. Marquez, 25, of Aberdeen, N.C.

            They were assigned to the 1st Special Forces Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

            For more information the media may contact the U.S. Army Special Forces Command, public affairs at 910-689-6187.

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from thetimesnews:

FORT BRAGG — Two Special Forces soldiers from Fort Bragg were killed Saturday in Afghanistan, the Defense Department said.

Warrant Officer Joseph L. Schiro, 27, of Coral Springs, Fla., and Staff Sgt. Justin C. Marquez, 25, of Aberdeen, were shot while on patrol in the Chak district of Wardak province, a statement released Sunday said. They were assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group's 1st Special Forces Battalion.

Shiro was on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan. He also served in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division's 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in 2006.

Shiro's military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2), the Army Commendation Medal (2), the Army Achievement Medal (2), the Army Good Conduct Medal (2), the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 3 Campaign Stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Special Forces Tab.

He is survived by his wife, three children and his parents.

Marquez was on his first overseas deployment. His military awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Medal, the Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab.

Staff Sgt. Justin C. Marquez

He is survived by his father, mother and brother.

By McClatchy News Service
Published: Monday, October 8, 2012 at 09:26 AM.

Related articles

• RIP WO Joseph L Schiro, SSG Justin C Maquez (waronterrornews.typepad.com)
• Fort Bragg soldiers die in Afghanistan (newsobserver.com)
• 2 Fort Bragg Special Forces soldiers killed in Afghanistan (stripes.com)

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Nigerian Army: 30 Boko Haram Members Killed in Gunbattle

Nigeria's army says soldiers on Sunday killed 30 suspected Boko Haram members during a gunfight in northeastern Yobe state.

A spokesman says a senior aide to Boko Haram's leader was among those killed. Nigerian soldiers seized a number of weapons including rifles, knives and bows and arrows.

The army says it arrested 10 Boko Haram suspects who it says are helping troops track down other members.

There is no word on any army casualties.

Boko Haram is an Islamic militant group that is trying to set up a strictly conservative Islamic state in Nigeria. Authorities blame the group for killing more than 1,400 people. Churches and police are frequent targets.

from VOA News
October 07, 2012

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Bomb Kills 2 At Afghan Intelligence Office

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

Police say a car bomb has killed at least two Afghan intelligence officers in the south of the country.

Helmand Province police spokesman Fareed Ahmed said the explosives had been hidden in a vehicle parked outside an office of the National Directorate of Security in the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah.

Ahmed said the bomb went off after noon on October 8, wounding another three intelligence officers and four civilians.

Helmand, considered a Taliban stronghold, was the site of major NATO and Afghan military operations in 2009 and 2010.

from RFE/RL
October 08, 2012

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Oct. 08., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained four, located a weapons cache and cleared 12 improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Oct. 7.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared three improvised explosive devices, two in Muqer district and one in Andar district.

Khowst province
Afghan Border Police found and safely cleared two improvised explosive devices in Khowst district.

Afghan Border Police and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Terezayi district. The cache contained small arms and a pair of binoculars.

Laghman province
Afghan Uniformed Police found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Mehtar Lam district.

Logar province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces killed an insurgent and detained one while investigating an improvised explosive device in Pul-E Alam district. The improvised explosive device was safely cleared and the detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktika province
Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared two improvised explosive devices in Yosuf Khel district.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces killed an insurgent and wounded three during an engagement in Sar Rowzah district. The wounded received medical care and then were transferred to a base for questioning.

Wardak province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared three improvised explosive devices in Sayyidabad district.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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Taliban kill 2 children of Afghan police officer in Ghazni

According to local authorities in eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan, Taliban militants on Saturday attacked an Afghan police officer in this province killing his two children.

Provincial intelligence – National Directorate of Security (NDS) Chief Syed Amirshah Sadat confirmed the report and blamed Taliban militants group for the attack.

He said Taliban militants attacked the police officer near his house late Satruday evening and killed the two sons of the Afghan police officer.

Mr. Sadat said the police officer who lost his two children is working in the municipality department of the eastern Ghazni city.

In the meantime provincial hospital officials said the dead bodies of the two children including a 10 year old girl and 16 year old boy were taken to the hospital following the incident.

Taliban militants group yet to commment regarding the incident.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - Sun Oct 07, 12:49 pm

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ISAF condemns murder of Afghan policeman’s children

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan – The International Security Assistance Force strongly condemns the murder of an Afghan policeman's two young children by insurgents in Ghazni province today.

"This deliberate targeting of an Afghan policeman and the killing of his innocent family members is nothing but murder. We condemn this heinous act in the strongest possible terms," said Brig. Gen. John Madower, deputy ISAF spokesman.

"This incident today is only the latest example of the insurgents' continuing disregard for the lives of innocent Afghan civilians. We offer our condolences to the family and loved ones of these two innocent children," Madower added.

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Afghan police kill suicide bomber in Helmand province

A suicide bomber was shot dead by Afghan national police forces in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan on Sunday.

Afghan interior ministry following a statement confirmed the suspected suicide bomber armed with the suicide vest was killed by Afghan police forces around 9:30 am local time.

The source further added the suspected suicide bomber was looking to carry out suicide attack on Afghan police forces convoy in Kajaki district and was shot dead before he carry out the attack.

Afghan interior ministry confirmed there were no casualties incurred to Afghan police forces following the incident.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - Sun Oct 07, 12:06 pm

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MoIA release:

Publish Date: Oct 07, 2012
A Suicide Bomber Killed in Helmand Province

A suicide bomber had planned to target Afghan National Police but before reaching to his target he was identified and killed by Afghan National Police.
The incident took place in the Kajaki District of Helmand province.
No Afghan National Police member was harmed in this incident.

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ISAF Regional Command Southwest release:

Statement from ISAF'S Regional Commander Southwest on preemptive killing of suicide bomber

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The following statement is from the commander of the International Security Assistance Force Regional Command Southwest, Gen. Charles ‘Mark’ Gurganus.

"I offer my congratulations to police in the Kajaki district of Helmand province for successfully identifying and killing a suicide bomber who had planned to target a police patrol and possibly harm innocent civilians. The police’s swift response to this cowardly act prevented any casualties and demonstrated again the professionalism and bravery of Afghanistan's National Police."

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28 Armed Taliban Killed, 1 Wounded and 13 Arrested by ANP (7.Oct.2012.)

Publish Date: Oct 07, 2012

28 Armed Taliban Killed, One Wounded and 13 Arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched 17 joint clearance operations in Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kapisa, Kunduz, Faryab, Uruzgan, Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Paktika, Paktiya and Farah provinces.

As a result of these operations, 28 armed Taliban were killed, one wounded and 13 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated five rocket launchers, one PKM machine gun, 12 AK-47 assault rifles with 24 magazines, two radio handset, 1000 light rounds, 21 heavy rounds, three different types of mines and 19 hand grenades.

Additionally, Afghan National Police discovered and defused a roadside mine which was placed by enemies of peace and stability in the Aab Pashak region, Grashk District of Helmand province, yesterday.

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