BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces found and safely
cleared eight improvised explosive devices and discovered one weapons
cache during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24
hours, March 13.
Ghazni province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Dehyak district.
Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs during operations in the Shamal district.
Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache during operations
in the Khowst district. The cache consisted of multiple IED making
materials, one rocket-propelled grenade and a recoilless rifle.
Paktika province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared two IEDs during operations in the Bermal district.
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Dzadran district.
KABUL - A suicide bomber blew himself up, killing 10 people Wednesday as a crowd of Afghans was watching the traditional sport of goat grabbing locally known as buzkashi, officials said. Among the 10 killed in the bombing in the remote village of Basos were several family members of the Afghan speaker of parliament, according to police spokesman Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai.
Ahmadzai said the dead include his father, a nephew and two brothers, one among them was the district police chief.
At least eight people were wounded after the attacker strapped with explosives struck during the game being played in front of 3,000 spectators, the spokesman said.
Buzkashi, or "goat grabbing", is the national sport of Afghanistan, and involves two teams who try to accumulate points by propelling a headless goat carcass to the scoring area.
Buzkashi is often compared to polo as it is played on horseback.
However, while polo is played with a ball, and buzkashi is played with a headless goat.
The attack occurred around 6 p.m. local time, as fans were gathering around the players after they came off the field at the end of the match, Kunduz province police spokesman Syed Sarwar said.
Afghan president Hamid Karzai condemned the bombers for attacking Afghan civilians.
"There was no foreign soldier or individual there, yet this was carried out by those terrorists who claim they are the enemies of foreign forces," Karzai said in a statement.
Meanwhile, US military officials Wednesday said they were probing the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan Monday night that killed five American service members.
The death of five US troops brought the total number of US troops killed that day to seven, making it the deadliest day for US forces so far this year.
Two US special operations forces were gunned down hours earlier in an insider attack by an Afghan policeman in eastern Afghanistan.
The NATO military coalition said in a statement that initial reports showed no enemy activity in the area at the time of the helicopter crash. The cause of the crash is under investigation, the statement said.
A US official said all five of the dead were American. The official said the helicopter went down outside Kandahar city.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.
An armed Islamist group occupying parts of northern Mali says it has joined forces with one of the country's main separatist movements. Alghabasse Ag Intalla, head of the Islamic Movement for Azawad, told VOA correspondent Idriss Fall that the Islamist group has signed an agreement with the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, or MNLA.
Intalla says the two groups will hold a congress in May to officially unify the movements.
The Islamic Movement of Azawad was formed recently by self-described "moderates" within the Ansar Dine rebel group.
Officials from the movement have said they are seeking autonomy for northern Mali, not independence.
Intalla, who was the former negotiator of Ansar Dine, says that although his group is currently fighting Islamists in the region, they will not help Malian forces in Kidal unless a political solution is found on the Tuareg situation.
Ansar Dine rebels joined with ethnic Tuaregs to seize control of northern Mali following the March 2012 coup. Ansar Dine and other Islamist groups then took full control of the region, where they have moved to impose strict Islamic law.
In other developments, a Chadian soldier was killed Tuesday in fighting in the Ifoghas mountains in the country's north. Nearly 30 Chadian soldiers have been killed in the operation so far.
Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs strongly rejects Itar-Tas story on counter-narcotics operation
The Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs therefore strongly rejects the
March 12 story run by Itar-Tas.
That story is entirely baseless.
The fact is that Afghan Counter Narcotics Special Operation Police
conducted a successful intelligence-driven operation in Shirzad district
of Nangarhar province on 11th March 2013 in which some 21 tons of drugs
were seized. This operation was conducted independently by Afghan
forces without the involvement of any foreigners.
No Russian anti-drug agency police are present in Afghanistan nor are
they working jointly with Afghan Counter Narcotics Police. Afghan
national security forces are fully capable of conducting
counter-narcotics operations on their own as necessary and they have had
numerous achievements in the past years.
Kabul, March 13 (Xinhua-ANI): One Afghan policeman and six militants were killed in an attack launched overnight by Taliban at a checkpoint in southern Afghanistan province of Helmand, an official said Wednesday.
"Unknown number of Taliban militants raided a police checkpoint in Zhranda area of Sangin district late Tuesday night as a result one policeman and six militants were killed," the administrative chief of the Sangin, Mohammad Sharif, told Xinhua.
He said one cop was also wounded in the attack in the province 555 km south of Afghan capital of Kabul.
The attack also partially damaged the checkpoint and the police also seized six rounds of guns following the attack, he added.
In neighboring Marjeh district, a joint unit of Afghan forces and the NATO-led coalition troops in an operation in search of a Taliban commander captured three insurgents earlier Wednesday.
"The Taliban commander is suspected of holding senior administrative responsibilities for the insurgent network in Marjeh, and to have been deeply involved in planning, coordinating and conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces," the NATO-led coalition forces said in a press release.
"He is also thought to have significant knowledge regarding the composition of the insurgency in the local area. The security force also seized two machine guns and 400 rounds of ammunition as a result of the operation," the release added.
The Taliban insurgent group, which has been waging an insurgency of more than one decade, has yet to make comments. (Xinhua-ANI)
KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): A local police commander was killed and two of his bodyguards suffered shrapnel injuries when a roadside bomb ripped through their vehicle in the Panjwai district of southern Kandahar province, an official said on Wednesday.
Once served as a Taliban commander, Mullah Zainullah, who joined the government-initiated peace process a year ago, was travelling in the Salehan area on Tuesday along with some of his bodyguards when came under attack, district chief Haji Fazal Mohammad told Pajhwok Afghan News. He travelled to attend the wedding of his nephew, the official said.
Known as Mullah Zaino, the deceased spearheaded a group of the NATO-backed Local Police Force in the Sparwan area.
The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the bomb attack, with the group spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi saying Zainullah was among four others killed and as many of his bodyguards were wounded in the blast.
from Pajhwok By Bashir Ahmad Naadem Mar 13, 2013 - 15:04
English: Map showing the extent of Somali pirate attacks on shipping vessels between 2005 and 2010. Français : Carte montrant l'étendue des attaques de pirates somaliens sur des navires de transport entre 2005 et 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
NAIROBI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Somali pirates have freed Greek oil tanker with 26 crew members onboard after ten months of captivity, the vessel's owners confirmed on Tuesday.
Dynacom Tankers Management said in a statement that the vessel, MT. Smyrni which was hijacked in Arabian Sea in May 2012 off 56 the Gulf Arab state of Oman was released on Monday.
"We are very pleased to report that the MT Smyrni has been released after ten months in the captivity of Somali pirates. All of the crew are safe and well and the vessel is proceeding to a port of refuge," the company said in a statement to Xinhua on Tuesday.
The Liberian-based flagged Smyrni, operated by a Greek company, was carrying 135,000 tonnes of oil and said to have been taken to Somalia.
The vessel has a crew of 26 of mixed nationalities who were all taken hostage in the attack and sources said there was no security guards aboard the tanker when it was attacked by pirates.
The seizure of Smyrni took place on its second voyage and marked the first successful hijacking of an oil tanker off the Omani coast since February 2011.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank the crew, their families, our employees and those agencies that have provided support through this long ordeal. We do not expect to make any further statements on this matter," Dynacom Tankers Management said.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden reduced drastically in 2012 as only 75 incidents including 14 hijackings were attributed to Somali pirates who continue to threaten an extended geographical region, according to a global maritime watchdog.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said in a global piracy report that only five attacks were reported in the last quarter of 2012, adding that the number of Somali hijackings was halved from 28 in 2011 to 14 last year.
The maritime watchdog said the drop is likely due to the increased active military action on suspected skiffs, military land based anti-piracy operations, preventive measures and increased use of armed guards on board ships as well as the monsoon season.
According to the report, only two crew have been killed, 250 taken hostage and one injured. The East and South Coast of Somalia including the Arabian Sea recorded 49 attacks including nine attacks in the Gulf of Oman region, with 13 attacks having been reported in the Gulf of Aden and the Southern Red Sea.
Most of the attacks involve the use of weapons which is a cause of great concern to the merchant navy fleet as it poses a serious threat not only to injury and death of seafarers but also to the ship, cargo and environment.
The Department of Defense announced today the death two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died March 11, in Jalrez District, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when they were attacked by small arms fire. Killed were:
Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, 28, of South Miami, Fla. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.
Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, of Edmond, Okla. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
For more information on Capt. Pedersen-Keel, media may contact the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) public affairs office at 910- 689-6187.
For more information on Staff Sgt. Schad, media may contact the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield public affairs office at 912- 210-9375.
HINESVILLE, GA (WTOC) - A Fort Stewart soldier was one of two killed March 11 in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Wednesday.
Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, of Edmond, Okla. and Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, 28, of South Miami, Fla. died in Jalrez District, Afghanistan, of injuries they suffered when they were attacked by small arms fire.
Schad was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. Pedersen-Keel was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.
On Wednesday, Schad's family talked about the moment his mother found out about his death.
"She had the trunk opened on her car when they walked up and she fell over on the ground," said Harold Whipple, Schad's grandfather.
Wednesday at 11 a.m., Maj. Gen. Robert "Abe" Abrams, the commanding Regional Command South in Afghanistan, will be briefing the media on the current operations in Afghanistan.
A soldier from Madison has been killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.
Army Captain Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel, 28, was killed in Afghanistan on Monday. Governor Dannel P. Malloy today ordered U.S. and Connecticut flags to fly at half-staff to honor Pedersen-Keel.
"Captain Pedersen-Keel made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our state and our nation," Malloy said. "Our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and his unit during this very difficult time. We pray for a safe homecoming for our troops who are stationed around the world, and thank them for their bravery and service."
"This is a tragic and sad reminder that even as the conflict in Afghanistan is winding down there are still hundreds of Connecticut soldiers in harm's way," said Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman. "Captain Pedersen-Keel and every one of the other 63 brave men and women from our state lost in Afghanistan and Iraq died defending us and our freedom, and that sacrifice must never be forgotten."
Capt. Pedersen-Keel, 28, was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was killed by a member of the Afghan National Police while conducting a patrol brief in the Jalrez District.
Flags will remain at half-staff until burial or memorial, Malloy's spokeswoman said.
Pedersen-Keel's parents got the news when military officials visited their Madison home on Monday.
"It is with deep regret and great sadness that we found out about Captain Andrew Pedersen-Keel, that he died in Afghanistan. ...it's very sad when something like this happens, especially sad when you have a local connection," said First Selectman Fillmore McPherson.
It is believed Pedersen-Keel was one of two American soldiers killed in a so-called insider attack. There are reports a person dressed as an Afghan Police Officer shot at U.S. and Afghan forces.
U.S. officials said have said two special forces soldiers were killed Monday when a policeman fired at people leaving a meeting at district police headquarters in Wardak province. The Pentagon has not released their names.
"It's always a tragedy when anyone dies. I think the expression is, `all gave some and some gave all,' and he certainly did. Very sad day," said Patrick Edenbun.
Pedersen-Keel graduated from Avon Old Farms School in 2002 and from the prestigious U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2006. His parents moved to Madison a few years ago, WTNH reported.
On Tuesday, flags flew at half staff in Madison and nearby Guilford, where Pedersen-Keel's parents attend St. George's church. McPherson said the town of Madison "stands ready" to offer what honors or special services the family desires.
KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a
Haqqani facilitator and one other insurgent during operations in Tanai
district, Khost province, today.
The insurgent is suspected to be responsible for multiple attacks on
Afghan and coalition forces. He is also believed to be involved in
procurement and distribution of improvised explosive devices and other
weapons to militant fighters throughout Khost and Paktiya provinces.
The security force also seized seven AK-47s, four AK-47 magazines, 2
handguns, 75 rounds of ammunition and IED-making material as a result of
the operation.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:
North
An Afghan and coalition security force arrested an Islamic Movement of
Uzbekistan commander during an operation in Kunduz district, Kunduz
province, today. The insurgent is suspected to be responsible for
directing subordinate fighters in attacks against Afghan and coalition
forces. He is believed to be a known improvised explosive device expert,
and to have passed his knowledge of IEDs on to other members of an
extremist cell.
South
An Afghan and coalition security force arrested three insurgents during
an operation in search of a Taliban commander in Marjeh district,
Helmand province, today. The Taliban commander is suspected of holding
senior administrative responsibilities for the insurgent network in
Marjeh, and to have been deeply involved in planning, coordinating and
conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He is also
thought to have significant knowledge regarding the composition of the
insurgency in the local area. The security force also seized two machine
guns and 400 rounds of ammunition as a result of the operation.
BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained one suspected
insurgent and found and safely cleared six improvised explosive devices
during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours,
March 12.
Ghazni province
Coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs during operations in the Ghazni district.
Afghan National Police found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Ghazni district.
Kunar province
Afghan Local Police found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Narang district.
Logar province
Afghan Local Police found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Pul-E Alam district.
Nangarhar province
Afghan and coalition forces detained one suspected insurgent during
operations in the Khugyani district. The suspected insurgent was taken
to a base for questioning.
Washington Time
Kabul Time
London Time
