Feb. 20., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces cleared six improvised explosive devices, discovered one weapons cache, and detained five suspected insurgents during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 19.

Paktya province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared a vehicle-borne IED in Chamkani district.

Logar province
Afghan National Security Forces detained four suspected insurgents in Pul-e Alam district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

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

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Dehyak district.

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Qarah Bagh district.

Khowst province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sabari district.

Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Nadir Shah Kot district.

Parwan rovince
Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Bagram district. The cache contained two rockets. Afghan forces diffused and removed both rockets.

Nangarhar province
Afghan National Security Forces detained one suspected insurgent during an engagement in Behsud district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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7 French Tourists Kidnapped in Cameroon

Seven French tourists, including four children, have been kidnapped in Cameroon by what French President Francois Hollande says is a Nigeria-based "terrorist group."

During a visit to Greece on Tuesday, Hollande told reporters that he believed the gunmen had crossed the border from Cameroon into Nigeria with the hostages.

"The most likely thing is that they have been taken to Nigeria," he said. "We are doing everything in our power to prevent them [from] being captured and trapped in this country.  But we warn also all the tourists that are in the area of Cameroon to avoid exposing themselves [to such dangers].  But we also have to do everything to find our compatriots."

The seven hostages are members of the same family.  The French energy firm GDF Suez says one of its employees based in the capital, Yaounde, was abducted along with his family while on vacation in northern Cameroon.

The incident occurred a day after the Islamist group Ansaru claimed responsibility for kidnapping seven foreigners in northern Nigeria.

Those captives, employed by a Lebanese-owned company, were taken hostage when gunmen stormed a construction site in Nigeria's Bauchi state.

Ansaru also claimed responsibility for kidnapping a French national in December.

The group said both incidents were motivated by what it called the European Union's transgressions against Islam in countries such as Mali and Afghanistan.

France sent forces into Mali last month to help drive out Islamist militant groups that controlled the country's north and were moving in the direction of the capital, Bamako.

Western countries have expressed increasing concern about Nigerian militant groups linking up with similar groups -- especially al-Qaida's North African branch, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.

Nigeria's best-known militant group is the Islamist sect Boko Haram, which is blamed for more than 1,000 killings since 2009.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

from VOA News
February 19, 2013

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• Seven French Tourists Kidnapped in Cameroon (voanews.com)
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Feb. 19., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition security forces confirmed today the death of Taliban senior leader, Khan Mohammad, and another insurgent during an operation in Musa Qal'ah district, Helmand province, Sunday.

Khan Mohammad, also known as Shams, was a critical Taliban command and control link within the Musa Qal'ah district network. He coordinated direct attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and participated in Taliban kidnapping operations. He facilitated the supply of weapons to insurgents.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout
Afghanistan:

South
An Afghan and coalition force arrested a Taliban leader in Panjwa'i district, Kandahar province, Monday. The leader was believed responsible for coordinating improvised explosive device operations against Afghan Local Police. As an IED facilitator, he was responsible for IED emplacement operations against Afghan and coalition forces, as well as Afghan civilians. He procured, transferred and delivered weapons, IED-making materials and supplies to insurgents operating in the province.

In Arghistan district, Kandahar province, yesterday, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader. The leader was allegedly responsible for an improvised explosive device attack network in Spin Boldak, Arghistan and Maruf districts, Kandahar province. He was responsible for the coordination and distribution of ammunition and heavy weapons to insurgents in the province.

An Afghan and coalition force detained three insurgents during a security operation in search of a Taliban leader in Arghistan district, Kandahar province, Monday. The leader is believed responsible for the direct acquisition and distribution of weapons and attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

East
Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents in Ghaziabad district, Kunar province, Monday. During the operation, the security force observed two individuals conducting insurgent activity. The security force engaged the insurgents with a precision strike, killing both individuals.

An Afghan and coalition force killed an insurgent during a security operation in Andar district, Ghazni province, Monday. The security force positively identified the insurgent and conducted a precision strike, killing him.

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Feb. 19., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed five insurgents and cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 18.

Kunar province
Coalition forces killed two insurgents during an engagement in Sar Kani district.

Afghan and coalition forces killed three insurgents during an engagement in Dangam district.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared two IEDs in Qarah Bagh district.

Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sabari district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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2 insider attack facilitators killed: NATO

KABUL (PAN): Afghan and coalition forces on Monday confirmed killing two Taliban insider attack facilitators -- Mahmood and Rashid -- during an operation in the Ghaziabad district of eastern Kunar province on Wednesday. 

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said Mahmood was involved in the killing of an American service member in Kunar on May 11, 2012.

A statement from ISAF said Rashid was Mahmood's associate and a former Afghan National Army soldier, who facilitated and assisted with insider attack planning and execution.

In northern Kunduz province, six insurgents were arrested by Afghan and foreign troops in search of a Taliban leader in Aliabad district.

The individuals were associated with a Taliban leader who is an improvised explosive device expert and allegedly oversees attacks on Afghan and coalition forces in the province.

from Pajhwok
By Pajhwok Report Feb 18, 2013 - 16:41   

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Heavy clashes reported in Daikundi province of Afghanistan

According to local authorities in Daikundi province of Afghanistan heavy clashes took place between Afghan security forces and militants on Monday morning in Kajran district.
The officials further added the clashes started early Monday morning and is still continuing.

Provincial security chief Juma Guldi Yardam confirming the report said fight between Afghan security forces and militants started around 6:30 am and militants were still resisting Afghan security forces until evening today.

He said the incident took place after several militants equipped with heavy weapons attacked security check posts in Kajran district from Baghran area of Helmand province.

Daikundi province is among the peaceful provinces of Afghanistan however the province is neighboring volatile southern Helmand province where militants are occassionally carrying out insurgency activiites in this province.

In the meantime Mr. Yardam said at least two militants were reportedly killed and three others were injured following the clashes while three Afghan security forces were also injured.

He also said further reserve troops are prepared to be deployed to the fighting area if clashes were not ended.

from KHAAMA
By Sayed Jawad - 18 Feb 2013, 8:09 pm

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Feb. 18., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed one insurgent and cleared one improvised explosive device during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 17.

Nangarhar province
Coalition forces killed one insurgent during an engagement in Sherzad district.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Ghazni City.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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25 killed in series of bombings, gunfire in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Up to 21 people were killed and some 125 wounded in a series of bomb attacks in the eastern part of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, while a gunfire attack kills four people in the northern city of Mosul on Sunday.

In Baghdad, a spate of car bombs and roadside bombs struck crowded marketplaces and parking lots at the mainly Shiite districts with the aim of causing heavy casualties among residents.

The attacks occurred around 11:00 a.m. (0800 GMT), when three car bombs went off in Sadr City district , two car bombs hit al- Husseiniyah district, and one in al-Ameen, Kamaliyah and Saidiyah districts each.

Two more roadside bombs ripped through Palestine Street and the district of Karrada in central the capital.

The attacks killed a total of 21 people and wounded 125 others, according to the latest reports by the Interior Ministry.

In northern Iraq, the police said that an officer in the provincial intelligence department was killed in the morning by three gunmen in front of his house in the city of Mosul, the capital of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh.

An Iraqi army patrol close to the scene, chased the attackers and killed them after a fierce clash, the source said.

Nineveh province has long been a stronghold for insurgent groups, including al-Qaida militants. Its capital city of Mosul, some 400 km north of the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad, is one of the country's most restive cities.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks, but al-Qaida front in Iraq frequently claimed the responsibility of most deadly attacks in the country, raising fears that the terrorist group could return to widespread violence.

Sunday attacks came amid weeks of unrest and protests in the Sunni Arab provinces over complaints of being marginalized as well as claims that the Shiite-dominated security forces were indiscriminately arresting their sons and torturing them.

Tension remains high in the country despite that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki sought to defuse the crisis with Sunnis, as he offered release of hundreds of Sunni detainees and halted arrests made based on information from secret informers. He also lifted ban from some of Saddam Hussein's Baath party members and raised salaries for Sunni anti-Qaida militia.

from XINHUA
2013-02-18 00:20:19
Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Uruzgan clash leaves 3 rebels dead

Districts of Orūzgān. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

TIRINKOT (PAN): Three Taliban fighters were killed during a clash in the Sarkhum area of central Uruzgan province on Sunday, an official claimed.

The firefight broke out when police reached the area for a search operation, Farid Ayel, provincial police spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said three AK-47 assault rifles, a pistol and six magazines were seized from the militants as a result of the three hours clash.

from Pajhwok
By Pajhwok Report Feb 17, 2013 - 16:07   

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35 armed Taliban lay down arms in W. Afghanistan

file photo

HERAT, Afghanistan, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Thirty five armed Taliban militants gave up fighting after 10 years and handed over their weapons to authorities in the western Herat province on Sunday, police said.
"Today 35 dissident brothers including four mine makers under Mullah Nasim, who fought against government over the past 10 years gave up fighting and handed in their weapons including several anti-vehicle and anti-personal mines to police," provincial police chief Rahmatullah Safi said in his speech at a ceremony to welcome the former militants.

With joining these people to the peace process, the security will be further improved in Herat province, he further said.

The former Taliban militants, according to the police officer were active in the eastern and southern parts of Herat over the past 10 years.

Taliban militants have yet to make comment.

More than 3,500 Taliban fighters, according to officials have laid down their arms and joined the government-backed peace process over the past one year, a claim rebuffed by the armed outfit as baseless.

from XINHUA
2013-02-17 19:29:49

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