Oct. 06., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, arrested a Taliban senior leader in Gardez district, Paktia province, today.

The arrested senior leader is suspected of maintaining working relationships with multiple Haqqani senior leaders. He is also believed to be responsible for planning and directing attacks on Afghan and coalition forces, smuggling weapons, and improvised explosive device placement throughout both Pul-e ‘Alam and Baraki Barak, Logar province.

He also is alleged to have managed the storage and delivery of both IEDs and multiple assault rifles to Taliban insurgents for use against Afghan and coalition forces.

The security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition forces detained a number of suspected insurgents during a security operation in search of a Taliban senior leader in Qal‘ah-ye Zal district, Kunduz province, today. The Taliban leader is believed to be planning a future attack targeting Afghan and coalition forces.

South

Afghan and coalition forces today confirmed the death of Taliban leader during a security operation in Zhari district, Kandahar province, Thursday. Mullah Abdul Ghafar Akhund was a Panjwayi-based Taliban leader. During the operation, the security force positively identified Abdul and other militants engaging in insurgent activity in an isolated area away from civilians. The security force conducted a precision airstrike, killing Abdul and two additional insurgents. He is believed to have organized numerous IED attacks and coordinated the movement of weapons and ammunition for use against Afghan and coalition forces. In the days leading to the operation, Abdul was suspected of being involved in an attack against Afghan and coalition forces. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no property was damaged as a result of the operation.

Afghan and coalition forces killed a number of insurgents during an operation in Panjwayi district, Kandahar province, today. After positively identifying the insurgents burying an IED and ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged with a precision airstrike, killing the insurgents. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.

Afghan Special Police and coalition forces, enabled by the Ministry of Interior’s Special Mission Wing, recovered hundreds of kilograms of narcotics and weapons during operations throughout Helmand province between Sept. 22 and Oct. 6. The missions resulted in the recovery of nearly 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds) of hashish, 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) of marijuana seeds, 190 kilograms (420 pounds) of poppy seeds, several rocket-propelled grenade warheads, one suicide bomber vest and nearly twenty weapons. The combined force also engaged and killed several insurgents during the two weeks of operations. (Photos available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/isafmedia/8058527435/in/photostream; http://www.flickr.com/photos/isafmedia/8058527621/in/photostream)

An International Security Assistance Force unit seized a large amount of explosives during a targeted raid on a suspected insurgent compound in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, yesterday. The coalition force discovered 725 kilograms (1,600 pounds) of explosives materials during the operation, and destroyed all but a small portion retained for future exploitation, on site. No civilians were harmed during the operation.

East

A Taliban commander was confirmed killed today as a result of a recent operation by Afghan Commandos, National Police, National Army and coalition forces in Chak district, Wardak province. The Taliban commander, Asad, commanded an insurgent cell specializing in IED emplacement and assassinations. Coalition forces said Asad was responsible for the assassination of Chak-E Wardak District Gov. Mohammad Ismail Wafa and his son, who were gunned down in a car in July as they traveled to the governor’s office. Asad is also believed to be responsible for the deaths and injuries of several Afghan civilians, killed by IEDs planted by his cell. The recent operation in Wardak, according to Afghan and coalition officials, is hailed as a major blow to the insurgency in the area.

Afghan Local Police defended themselves against a large attack on their security checkpoint, killing a reported dozens of insurgents outside of Marzak Village, Sar Howzah district, Paktika province, Thursday. The insurgents attacked the checkpoint, located near a girls' school, with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. The Marzak ALP, partnered with Afghan Uniformed Police, National Army Special Forces and coalition special operations forces, quickly responded to the attack, repelling the insurgents and forcing them to flee south into the mountains. Additionally, a few ALP members taken captive by the insurgents during the attack were rescued, received medical treatment and are in stable condition. No civilians were harmed in the engagement.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban senior leader in Waghaz district, Ghazni province, today. As the security force approached the Taliban leader’s location, several armed insurgents maneuvered from the compound. The security force identified the threat and engaged, killing one armed insurgent. No civilians were harmed in the exchange. The arrested leader is alleged to have conducted complex attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, involving the use of improvised explosive devices, mortars and rockets. He was also believed to be in charge of the Taliban education system for all of Ghazni province. The security force also detained one suspected insurgent and seized multiple grenades, several blasting caps, and weapon’s accessories as a result of the operation.

An Afghan and coalition force detained a number of suspected insurgents during a security operation in search of a Haqqani facilitator in Dzadran district, Paktia province, today. The Haqqani facilitator is suspected of coordinating the acquisition of suicide vests and weapons to be used in targeted attacks on Afghan and coalition forces.

Afghan and coalition forces killed a number of insurgents during an operation in Dzadran district, Paktia province, today. During the operation, the security force positively identified the militants engaging in insurgent activity in an isolated area away from civilians. The security force conducted a precision airstrike, killing the insurgents. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Taliban leader in Achin district, Nangarhar province, today. The arrested leader is believed to provide lodging, weapons, to include rockets and mortars, and intelligence knowledge to support the Taliban insurgency within Nangarhar province. During the operation, the security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents and seized a firearm and explosive material.

An Afghan and coalition security force killed two armed insurgents during a security operation in Watahpur district, Kunar province, today. During the operation, the security force positively identified a group of armed insurgents preparing to attack Afghan and coalition forces. After ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged the insurgents with a precision airstrike, killing two. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.

Afghan and coalition forces rescued a number of Afghan civilians held hostage in a Taliban compound in Nawah district, Ghazni province, during an Afghan-led operation yesterday. The insurgent captors fled the compound when they saw the combined force approaching. The hostages were found in poor health but have received medical care and are recovering. No casualties were sustained during the operation. The individuals were reportedly kidnapped by Taliban on Highway 1 in the vicinity of Mohammad Aziz Khan Kala village seven days earlier. Two of the rescued individuals are farmers from Nawah district and three are local villagers from Moqur district, Ghazni province.

Capital

The Afghan Special Police Crisis Response Unit enabled by coalition forces seized a large cache of weapons during a short-notice operation in Surobi district, Kabul province, yesterday. The combined force recovered 85 mortar rounds, nearly two dozen recoilless rifle rounds and 20 rocket propelled grenades. This successful mission, according to a coalition official, shows the CRU’s ability to disrupt the insurgent network in Surobi and degrade their ability to conduct attacks. No shots were fired during the operation and no casualties were sustained. (Photo available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/isafmedia/8058525430/in/photostream)

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37 Armed Taliban Killed, 4 Wounded and 31 Arrested by ANP

Publish Date: Oct 06, 2012

37 Armed Taliban Killed, Four Wounded and 31 Arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched six joint clearance operations in Kabul, Faryab, Kandahar, Zabul, Maidan Wardak and Helmand provinces.

As a result of these operations, 37 armed Taliban were killed, four wounded and 31 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated 21 kilos of opium, two rocket launchers with 20 rockets, 13 different types of weapons, 31 radio handsets, 1100 light rounds, 118 heavy rounds, nine different types of mines, 12 hand grenades, three suicide vests and seven motorcycles.

Additionally, Afghan National Police discovered and defused seven anti-vehicle mines as a result of security operations in Kunar, Baghlan, Laghman and Uruzgan provinces, yesterday.

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Yemeni police foil bomb attack on military air base in south

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni police forces managed to foil a suspected al-Qaida suicide bombing against a military base in the troubled southern province of Lahj on Saturday, a government official told Xinhua.

Two al-Qaida assailants who rode on a small pick-up truck suspected to contain explosives tried Saturday noon to attack the Anad military air base located in the restive province of Lahj, but the operation was aborted by police there, the local government official said, requesting anonymity.

"The policemen successfully managed to foil the terrorist operation at a checkpoint near the Anad air base, where hundreds of U.S. marines are inside," he said.

"The al-Qaida bombers were aiming to target the U.S. soldiers, but they did not succeed in conducting their coward operation," he added.

Experts of a bomb disposal unit arrived and defused the explosives-laden car, a security official told Xinhua anonymously.

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 al-Qaida militants in the southern regions.

The Yemeni security authorities usually accuse militants of the Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot of being behind armed attacks against government compounds and intelligence headquarters in the country's turbulent south.

Al-Qaida militants have claimed responsibility for assassinating several army commanders and intelligence officers in the south months after they were driven out of their bastions in cities of Abyan and Shabwa provinces in a U.S.-backed offensive.

Combating al-Qaida militants in the restive south is one of the challenges confronting Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who promised to launch a national dialogue to settle disputes among all political factions and to uproot the Yemeni branch of al- Qaida.

from XINHUA
2012-10-06 20:20:53

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Oct. 05., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces killed a Taliban senior leader and strategist during a security operation in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, Thursday.

Senior Taliban leader Khan is believed to have planned and executed rocket attacks against Afghan and coalition assets. Additionally, he is alleged to have conducted multiple attacks against fuel tankers along the main supply route within Laghman province. More than 20 Taliban insurgents reported directly to Khan at the time of his death.

During the operation, the security force positively identified Khan and a number of additional individuals engaging in insurgent activity. After ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged Khan and the insurgents with a precision airstrike.

A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition security force killed numerous heavily-armed insurgents during an operation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in Dowlatabad district, Faryab province, today. As the security force approached the senior Taliban leader’s suspected location, the armed insurgents were ordered to disarm and leave the compound. The insurgents responded by opening fire on the Afghan and coalition troops. The security force returned fire, killing the insurgents. The Taliban senior leader is believed to be responsible for facilitating, planning and coordinating improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout Jowzjan province. During the operation, the security force also seized a weapons arsenal consisting of several automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, mines and various IED-making materials. No civilians were harmed in the exchange.

South

Afghan Special Police and coalition forces yesterday confirmed the detention of local insurgent leader Muhammad Khan in a raid Monday in Nad-e Ali district, Helmand province. The captured leader is reputed to head a cell of insurgents and to closely follow the direction of regional Taliban leadership. He is believed to be responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the area in addition to being an IED, weapons and finances facilitator for the insurgency. No civilian, Afghan security forces or coalition casualties were sustained during the operation.

Provincial Response Company Zabul, enabled by coalition forces, killed several enemy fighters and seized a large cache of explosives material in Qalat district, Zabul province after it was attacked while attempting to disrupt insurgent facilitation routes between Kandahar and Zabul, Wednesday. Following the engagement, the Afghan and coalition force discovered 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of ammonium nitrate, 100 kilograms of ammonium nitrate mixed with aluminum powder, several hand grenades and weapons, and several hundred rounds of ammunition. The force also found five motorcycles it believes were intended for use in suicide-vehicle IED attacks. All seized materials were destroyed at the location.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Now Zad district, Helmand province, today. The leader was believed to be coordinating and conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Prior to his arrest, the Taliban leader was suspected of working toward acquiring weapons and ammunition while planning an attack on an Afghan village. The security force also detained a number of insurgents and seized a firearm along with weapon paraphernalia during the operation.

Afghan and coalition forces conducted a security operation in search of a Taliban leader, resulting in the death of a number of insurgents, in Zhari district, Kandahar province, Thursday. During the operation, the security force observed the individuals engaged in insurgent activity. After taking all measures to ensure no civilians were in the area, the security force engaged the insurgents, killing them. The Taliban leader is suspected of directing attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces, facilitating the movement of weapons throughout the region, and reporting directly to senior Taliban leaders in the district.

East

Provincial Response Company Logar, advised by coalition forces, seized a significant cache of IED-making materials and weapons during an operation in Baraki Barak district, Logar province Wednesday. The find included more than a dozen jugs of home-made explosives, 20 antipersonnel mines, 12 rocket propelled grenades and a mortar tube. All materials were destroyed at the site. No Afghan or coalition service members or civilians were harmed as a result of this operation.

Afghan and coalition forces killed a number of suicide bombers and detained several suspected insurgents during a security operation in Jaghatu district, Wardak province, today. As the security force approached the suicide bombers’, several armed insurgents maneuvered toward the Afghan and coalition troops. After positively identifying the lethal threat, the security force engaged the armed insurgents. During the exchange, homemade explosives within the compound detonated, killing the suicide attack planners inside. The suicide bombers were believed to be in the advanced stages of preparing for an attack against Afghan and coalition forces. As a result of the operation, the security force also seized several suicide vests, multiple firearms, grenades, containers of homemade explosives, blasting caps, in addition to weapon accessories. No civilians were harmed during the operation.

Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents during an operation in Muhammad Aghah district, Logar province, today. After positively identifying the insurgents burying an improvised explosive device and ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged with a precision airstrike, killing the insurgents. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.

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Oct. 05., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed 16 insurgents, detained one and cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Oct. 4.

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

Laghman province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Alingar district.

Paktika province
Afghan Local Police and coalition forces killed 16 insurgents during an engagement in Sar Rowzah district.

Afghan Uniformed Police detained an insurgent during an engagement in Sar Rowzah district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktya province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Dzadran district.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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8 rockets fired on Bagram airbase

English: A view of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan from the Air Traffic Control Tower's catwalk after a recent rainstorm. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

CHARIKAR (PAN): Eight missiles were fired on the Bagram Airbase, a major military centre of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), in the central province of Parwan on Friday, officials said.

The missiles landed in the Khanjarkhel area, two kilometres east of the base, the district police chief, Col. Zamaray Nasiri, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Security personnel had mounted a manhunt for the attackers, he said, without blaming anyone for the assault.

“We heard the sound of rockets at 5am,” resident Malik Mirza said.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed they had fired 10 missiles on the base, inflicting casualties and material losses on foreign troops.

from Pajhwok

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R.I.P. - Sgt. Camella M. Steedley

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

            Sgt. Camella M. Steedley, 31, of San Diego, Calif., died Oct. 3, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  She was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

            The cause of death is under investigation.

            For more information media may contact the 1st Marine Logistics Group Public Affairs Office at 760-763-7795.

---

Sgt. Camella Marchett Steedley, at right in civilian clothes,
with her husband James Steedley and their children.

A logistics Marine originally from San Diego has died supporting combat operations in Afghanistan, the Defense Department announced Thursday.

Sgt. Camella M. Steedley, 31, died Wednesday in Helmand province, the Pentagon said. The Camp Pendleton Marine was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group.

Steedley lived in San Clemente with her husband of eight years and fellow Marine, James Steedley, and their four children, according to their Facebook pages. She also is survived by her mother, Ardraine Alsbrooks of San Diego, and father, Marcus Alsbrooks.

James Steedley could not immediately be reached for comment. Marcus Alsbrooks said Thursday evening that the family is gathering and had not decided what information to release to the public.

Her cause of death is under investigation. 2nd Lt. Savannah Moyer, a spokesperson for the Marine logistics group, said she could not comment on the reason for the investigation.

Steedley was an air operations clerk serving her first Afghanistan deployment since she enlisted in the Marine Corps Dec. 11, 2001, the 1st Marine Logistics Group said.

Her awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (second award), Letter of Appreciation (seventh award), Nato Medal-ISAF Afghanistan, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Certificate of Commendation (third award), Meritorious Mast (second award), Certificate of Appreciation, Navy Unit Commendation, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

from utsandiego

Written by Gretel C. Kovach
5:48 p.m., Oct. 4, 2012
Updated 8:08 p.m.

Related articles

• RIP Sgt Camella M Steedley (waronterrornews.typepad.com)
• Marine from Camp Pendleton dies in Afghanistan (latimesblogs.latimes.com)

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R.I.P. - Sgt. 1st Class Daniel T. Metcalfe

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Sgt. 1st Class Daniel T. Metcalfe, 29, of Liverpool, N.Y., died Sep. 29, in Sayyid Abad, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when his unit was attacked with small arms fire.  The incident is under investigation.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy.

            For more information the media may contact the U.S. Army Europe public affairs office in Heidelberg, Germany, at 011-49-162-271-6685.

---

On Thursday, the Pentagon released the casualty report for Army Sergeant First Class Daniel Metcalfe, 29, from Liverpool, N.Y., who was killed Saturday.

Metcalfe was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team based in Vicenza, Italy.  The casualty report said Metcalfe died in Afghanistan’s Sayyid Abad district when his unit was attacked with small-arms fire. The  Sayiid Abad district is located in Wardak Province.

The Associated Press reported this weekend that the 2,000 milestone had been reached in an incident that NATO officials initially believed to have been an insider attack in Wardak Province.   NATO later clarified that the attack was now suspected to have involved insurgent fire.

According to an updated NATO statement, “The incident occurred while an ISAF unit was manning a temporary check point in an area near an Afghan National Army unit.  According to ISAF and ANA reporting, after a short conversation took place between ANA and ISAF personnel firing occurred which resulted in the fatal wounding of an ISAF soldier and the death of his civilian colleague.  In an ensuing exchange of fire three ANA personnel are reported to have died. ”

The details about who actually fired on whom in the incident remain under investigation.
Metcalfe’s father, Tom Metcalfe, spoke with  ABC affiliate WHAM in Rochester, N.Y., on Monday.  Driving to Dover Air Force Base to meet his son’s remains, Metcalfe said, “He was proud to serve his country. ” He added,  ”I hated to lose him, knew that was always a possibility, but he was a good man.”

Metcalfe said his son was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan and had joined the Army when he was 18.

A memorial service for Sargeant Metcalfe was being held Thursday in Macedon, N.Y.

from abc
 

Related articles

• RIP SFC Daniel T Metcalfe (waronterrornews.typepad.com)
• NY Soldier the 2,000th Military Fatality in Afghanistan (abcnews.go.com)

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More than 70 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan within day

KABUL, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Up to 70 Taliban militants have been killed in military operations and direct fighting with security forces in different Afghan provinces within a 24-hour period of time, authorities said on Thursday.

"Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan army and the NDS or Afghan intelligence agency in collaboration with the NATO-led coalition forces launched 13 joint cleanup operations in Kabul, Laghman, Baghlan, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Sari Pul and Kandahar provinces, killing 27 armed Taliban, wounding eight armed militants over the past 24 hours," the Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement earlier Thursday.

The ANP also detained eight other suspected Taliban militants during the above raids, the statement said, adding "the ANP also found and seized one rocket launcher, one PK-M machine gun, eight different types of weapons, one radio handset, 22 heavy rounds, 13 different types of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and 11 motorcycles used by the militants in the operations."

The counter-insurgency operations, aiming to dismantle the insurgency's mid-level command structure and its supply line, have been stepped up in the country particularly since early May this year when Taliban launched an annual rebel offensive to target security forces.

In separate development, up to 30 militants were killed during clashes in the country's eastern province of Paktika, some 155 km south of capital city of Kabul overnight, the provincial government said in a statement earlier Thursday.

"The Afghan Local Police (ALP) repelled an insurgent attack against an ALP checkpoint in Markozo area of Sar Hawza district at around 2:00 a.m. local time Thursday forcing dozens of militants to flee the area and leaving 30 dead behind," the statement said, adding the ALP has also found 26 militants' dead bodies and would hand them to ANP later in the day besides finding weapons and ammunitions on the ground.

A Taliban commander Mullah Sayed Noor is believed to be killed in the fighting which lasted for more than an hour, it said.

The NATO and U.S.-funded ALP or community police was established in August 2010 to protect villages and districts around the insurgency-hit country where Afghan army and police have limited presence.

In addition, a total of 15 Taliban militants were killed by NATO-led forces' helicopters in the country's southern province of Kandahar Wedmesday, the provincial government said in a statement Thursday.

"The ALP security forces were manning a checkpoint in Tangi area of Shah Wali Kot district Wednesday night when they found more than 30 armed militants approaching their post to launch an attack and they called in an airpower support," the statement said, adding as the helicopters with the NATO-led coalition arrived the militants fled the area but 15 militants were killed in the airstrike.

A search operation was launched to arrest the fled militants who took shelter in a populated area and the gardens around the vicinity in the province 450 km south of Kabul.

The security force found and seized 10 AK-47 guns, a PK-M machine gun, a RPG-rocket and several hand grenades, according to the statement.

It said no ALP service man or civilian were harmed in the airstrike.

Meanwhile, another setback for the Taliban insurgent group was the loss of five local leaders and commanders in eastern Wardak province in a six day operation ending on Wednesday.

"Dozens of Afghan soldiers and police, supported by coalition special operations forces, concluded a six-day operation against insurgent networks in the Chak district, Wardak province yesterday, " the NATO-led coalition said in a press release earlier Thursday.

"More than 30 insurgents were killed by Afghan Commandos, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, and coalition forces, who participated in the operation," the ISAF release said, adding that coalition officials have confirmed five of the insurgents who were killed were high level Taliban commanders operating in the area in the province 35 km west of Kabul.

The dead Taliban leaders named Ahmad Shah, Mullah Malang, Zubair, Rasul Jan and Wahdat.

The Taliban insurgents, who have been waging more than a decade- long insurgency, launched an annual spring offensive starting from May 3 to target Afghan forces as well as U.S. and NATO troops across the country.

The Taliban has warned the civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants besides warning people against supporting government and foreign troops.

The Taliban insurgent group has yet to confirm the death of the insurgent commanders and fighters.

from XINHUA
2012-10-04 20:08:16
by Farid Behbud, Chen Xin

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Four Nigerian peacekeepers killed in Sudan's Darfur

English: Map of Darfur within Sudan, July 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Four Nigerian peacekeepers were killed and eight wounded in an ambush in Sudan's western Darfur region, the international peacekeeper force UNAMID said on Wednesday.

"They were killed last night some 2 km (1.2 miles) from our regional headquarters in El Geneina. They came under fire from all sides," a spokesman for UNAMID said.

UNAMID, the world's largest peacekeeping mission, was deployed by the United Nations and the African Union in the arid western territory after fierce fighting in 2003 which forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.

A total of 42 peacekeepers have been killed since UNAMID was set up, according to the force.

Violence in Darfur, where mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms against the government in Khartoum, has ebbed from a 2003-04 peak but international efforts to broker peace have failed to end the conflict.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and other officials to face charges of masterminding atrocities in the region where Sudanese troops and allied Arab militias have sought to crush the rebellion.

Estimates of the death count vary widely.

Sudan's government signed a Qatar-sponsored peace deal with an umbrella organisation of smaller rebel groups last year, but the major factions refused to join.

from REUTERS
Wed Oct 3, 2012 2:48pm GMT

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