Sep. 22., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan Special Police and coalition security forces confirmed today they detained a Taliban leader during a partnered night operation in Kariz-e-Sayidi district, Helmand province Tuesday.

Gran Agha, also known as Khudaidad, is suspected of being a facilitator of insurgent activity against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout Kariz-e-Sayidi and Nad-e-Ali districts and led a cell of insurgents in a wide range of criminal activity.

The detained leader is also believed to have links to a number of other Taliban leaders operating throughout the province.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South
Afghan and coalition security forces today confirmed the arrest of a Taliban leader in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Friday. The arrested leader is alleged to have provided equipment for attacks on Afghan and coalition forces, in addition to coordinating insurgent operations throughout northern Helmand. In the weeks prior to his arrest, several insurgents believed to be operating under the Taliban leader attempted multiple attacks on security forces. The security force also detained several suspected insurgents as a result of the operation.

Afghan Special Police, advised by coalition security forces, conducted a cordon and search operation in Lashkar Gah district, Helmand province last night resulting in an explosives cache recovery. In the Afghan led mission, 4,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate and 1,000 kilograms of homemade explosives were seized. The area the cache was found is a suspected facilitation node for lethal aid being transported from Pakistan to Central Helmand.

East
In Gardez district, Paktiya province today, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani weapons dealer. The arrested weapons dealer is believed to be responsible for delivering supplies and weapons — including assault rifles — to Haqqani insurgents throughout the area for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The Haqqani weapons dealer is also suspected of playing an active role in planning, preparing and coordinating insurgent attacks against security forces. The security force also detained a few suspected insurgents and seized weapons accessories and dozens of counterfeit IDs as a result of the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban intelligence facilitator in Gelan district, Ghazni province, today. The arrested facilitator is alleged to have gathered information on Afghan and coalition security operations and provided it to Taliban leaders for planning and conducting insurgent attacks. The security force also detained a few suspected insurgents and seized several firearms and accessories as a result of the operation.

In Molla Gur Village, Kus Kunar District, Kunar Province Friday, the 1st Company, 1st Special Operations Kandak, conducted a clearing operation alongside Coalition Forces. During the operation, numerous insurgents fired at the forces with machine guns from prepared fighting positions hidden on the high ground. After positively identifying the hostile intent, Commandos and Coalition Forces implemented air-to-ground and mortar engagements resulting in two insurgents killed. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed. There was also no Afghan or coalition security forces were injured or killed during the engagement.

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Afghan police kill 19 Taliban fighters, detain 13

KABUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police during series of operations have eliminated 19 armed Taliban fighters and detained over a dozen others over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Saturday.

"During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, in conjunction with the army and NATO-led Coalition Forces launched 13 joint cleanup operations in Kandahar, Zabul, Maidan Wardak, Logar, Ghazni, Paktiya and Helmand provinces leaving 19 Taliban rebels dead and capturing 13 others," the statement added.

Three more militants sustained injuries during the combat operations, according to the statement. However, it did not say if there were any casualties on the security forces.

Taliban militants are yet to make comment.

from XINHUA
2012-09-22 15:01:51

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R.I.P. - Sgt. Jason M. Swindle

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

            Sgt. Jason M. Swindle, 24, of Cabot, Ark., died Sept. 20, in Panjwa’l, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when he encountered enemy, small arms fire.

            Swindle was assigned to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            For more information pertaining to this release, media may contact the 3rd Infantry Division public affairs office at 912-210-9375.

---

FORT STEWART, Ga. -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

  24 year old Sgt. Jason M. Swindle of Cabot, Ark., died September 20th in Panjwa’l, Afghanistan
  He died of injuries sustained when he encountered enemy, small arms fire.

  Swindle was assigned to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart. He was an infantryman who joined the Army in July 2005.

 Swindle had four deployments and posthumously earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals.

  The thoughts and prayers of Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield and the 3rd ID are with Swindle’s family; the installation is providing support to the family.

By: Jamison Dowd | Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Public Affairs Office
Published: September 22, 2012 

Related articles

• RIP SGT Jason M Swindle (waronterrornews.typepad.com)
• Ga. soldier killed in Afghanistan (savannahnow.com)
• Cabot native dies in Afghanistan (fox16.com)

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US drone strike kills three in North Waziristan: officials

MIRAMSHAH: A US drone strike on Saturday killed at least three militants in Pakistan’s restive tribal region near the Afghan border, security officials said.

The strike took place in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, known as a bastion of the Taliban and al Qaeda.

The drone targeted a moving vehicle and fired two missiles, they said.

“The identity of the militants was immediately unclear but this area is mostly occupied by members of the militant commander Gul Bahadur’s group,” a security official in Peshawar told AFP.

Another official on the ground in Miranshah said that the vehicle had been driving through a village 35 kilometers (around 20 miles) west of Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan tribal district.

“We have reports that two militants of Gul Bahadur group were also injured in the attack,” he told AFP on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

from DAWN

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2 Iraqi soldiers, 2 others killed in attacks in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Two Iraqi soldiers and two other people were killed in separate attacks in and near the restive capital city of Baghdad on Friday, said the police.

A police officer, on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that two soldiers were killed and two others wounded when a road side bomb hit their patrol in Mushahda area, some 20 km north of Baghdad.

Unidentified gunmen assassinated a Sunni cleric in the Washash district in the western part of Baghdad with weapons with silencers, said the source, adding that the attackers fled the scene after the killing.

The official said unidentified gunmen, on the same day, stormed the house of a retired officer of the Iraqi army in Baghdad's southern district of Dora and shot him dead.

from XINHUA
2012-09-21 16:54:24

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Yemeni air strikes kill two al-Qaida militants in south

map by Evan Centanni(www.polgeonow.com)

ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two Yemeni airstrikes hit a gathering of al-Qaida militants in the troubled southern province of Abyan on Thursday, killing two insurgents, a security official told Xinhua.

Fighter jets of the Yemeni air forces pounded a gathering of the al-Qaida militants on the eastern outskirts of Mahfad town in Abyan, leaving at least two insurgents killed and three others injured, the local security official spoke on condition of anonymity.

Militant sources confirmed to Xinhua the death of two al-Qaida insurgents believed to be behind a series of deadly attacks in Abyan.

"The air bombing is going to have a very significant impact on the activities of al-Qaida militants... Their movement in Abyan is going to be disrupted during the coming days," the security official said.

"The military is doing enough to eliminate terrorists living in the mountainous areas of Abyan," he added.

Yemeni security authorities usually accuse militants of the Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot of being behind armed attacks against military officials and army bases.

Attacks and raids have continued since the country's political turmoil last year, when scores of al-Qaida militants took control of certain areas in the restive south but were later pushed out by a U.S.-backed offensive.

The United States has used its drones to support the Yemeni military campaign that aimed to crush al-Qaida operations in the impoverished Arab country.

from XINHUA
2012-09-21 00:57:21

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2 dead in Kandahar bike blast

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): A child and a policeman were killed when a bomb-rigged motorbike went off in the southern city of Kandahar late on Thursday, an official said.

The explosives-packed bike had been parked on a road in the Brekhnakot area in the jurisdiction of the first police district, the governor’s spokesman said.

Javed Faisal said another two children and a policeman were injured when the bike was detonated with a remote-controlled device around 7pm.

Witness Mohammad Salim, who runs a shop in the area, said the blast occurred when the crowd in the bazaar started swelling. He confirmed a child and a policeman were killed.

from Pajhwok
by Bashir Ahmad Naadim on Sep 20, 2012 - 20:21   

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5 family members killed following blast in southern Afghanistan

According to local authorities in southern Uruzgan province of Afghanista, at least 5 members of a family were killed following a roadside bomb blast in this province.

Provincial governor spokesman Abdullah Hemat confirming the report said the incident took place on Thursday afternoon in Herawod district.

Mr. Hemat further added the deceased civilians including two women, two girls and a man were members of an Afghan family.

He said the incident took place while they were on their way to center of the district after their vehicle struck with a roadside bomb.

This comes as six members of a single family were killed followig a roadside bomb blast in southern Helmand province a month earlier.

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

Taliban militants and other insurgent groups frequently use improvised explosive device to target Afghan and coalition security forces which normally leads to civilians casualties.

from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Fri Sep 21, 9:49 am

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Sep. 21., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition security forces arrested the Taliban leader believed to be behind the Nov. 10, 2011, suicide attack in Tsamkani district, Paktiya province, killing a few Afghan police officers, during a security operation in Sayyid Karam district, Pakitya province, today.

Furthermore, the security forces arrested a Haqqani leader and suspected improvised explosive device expert who is believed to have constructed IEDs, planned their use and facilitated their movement throughout the region to attack Afghan and coalition forces.

Also during the security operation, one armed insurgent was killed. As the security force attempted to enter the Taliban leader’s compound, the armed insurgent fired upon Afghan and coalition troops. The security force returned fire, killing the armed insurgent. No civilians were harmed in the exchange.

The security force also detained several suspected insurgents and seized one assault rifle and Taliban paraphernalia as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

Afghan and coalition security forces today confirmed the death of Mullah Naim, the senior Taliban leader for Balkh district, following a security operation in Balkh province, Thursday. As the security force approached Mullah Naim’s location, he and one other armed insurgent maneuvered toward the Afghan and coalition troops and displayed hostile intent. The security force positively identified the lethal threat and engaged, killing Mullah Naim and the other armed insurgent. No civilians were harmed during the operation. As the senior Taliban leader for Balkh district, Mullah Naim — also known as Mutaqi, Khodai Nur and Mullah Ayeno — was responsible for insurgent activity throughout the region. He was also believed to be one of the key figures behind a recent improvised explosive device attack in Mazar-e Sharif killing several Afghan civilians. Also known as an IED expert, Mullah Naim recently acquired several IEDs and IED components to conduct attacks throughout the region. The security force also detained one suspected insurgent and seized multiple firearms, grenades and explosives as a result of the operation.

South

Afghan Special Police and coalition security forces killing a few armed insurgents during a vehicle interdiction and narcotics recovery operation yesterday in Nimroz district, Helmand province. When combined forces stopped a few suspicious vehicles they were engaged by enemy fire from the occupants. The troops pushed back the insurgents, killing a few and detaining a small number of attackers. Hidden in the vehicles was 2,680 kilograms of dry opium, 150 kilograms of wet opium, 850 kilograms of brown heroin and one bag of hashish. Weapons were also seized including multiple machine guns along with ammunition and magazines. No Afghan Special Police or coalition casualties were sustained during the operation. The drugs were destroyed.

In Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested several suspected insurgents during an operation in search of a Taliban leader, today. The Taliban leader is suspected of conducting insurgent operations throughout northern Helmand, in addition to providing equipment and supplies for attacks on Afghan and coalition forces.

An Afghan and coalition security force detained multiple suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in Atghar district, Zabul province, today. The Taliban leader is believed to direct insurgent activity and attacks throughout Atghar, and command several dozen insurgent fighters in Zabul.

East

In Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, today, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a suspected leader of a Haqqani attack cell. The detained Haqqani cell leader is believed to have directed and conducted attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the district, as well as supporting other Haqqani leaders throughout the region. The attack cell leader’s connections with other Haqqani leaders across the district is alleged to have established an insurgent network which was responsible for multiple attacks including ambushes and indirect fire strikes using mortars. The security force also detained one suspected insurgent as a result of the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force detained a small number of suspected insurgents and seized an assault rifle during an operation to arrest a Taliban weapons dealer in Sayyidabad district, Wardak province, today. The Taliban weapons dealer is alleged to be responsible for providing weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices for insurgent attacks.

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Sep. 21., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained six insurgents, located two weapons caches and cleared eight improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Sept. 20.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Ghazni district. The cache contained homemade explosives and a rocket.

Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces detained two insurgents during an engagement in Dehyak district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Khowst province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained an insurgent during an engagement in Khowst district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Logar province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared five IEDs, four in Wardak district and one in Baraki Barak district.

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

Paktika province
Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared an IED in Bermal district.

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

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Zurmat district.

Wardak province
Afghan National Army soldiers discovered a weapons cache in Maidan Shahr district. The cache contained fuses, mortars, grenades, small arms and ammunition, and uniforms.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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