War In Afghanistan Daily News - December 4, 2008

Coalition, Afghan Forces Kill 10, Detain Seven American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2008 – Afghan and coalition troops today detained three militants in Afghanistan’s westernmost province, a day after troops killed 10 and detained four others in separate battles with insurgents, military officials reported. In today’s operation, three men were detained in the Shindand district of Herat province near the Iranian border. Afghan army commandos, assisted by coalition troops, detained the men as “persons of interest” in what is believed to be the headquarters of a bomb-making cell in the Zer-e-koh Valley. The men were carrying AK-47 assault rifles and wearing vests loaded with ammunition. Commandos encountered no resistance from the armed men, and no shots were fired. Coalition and Afghan forces yesterday killed 10 insurgents in separate operations that resulted in firefights with militants. In the first incident, a combined coalition and Afghan unit on a reconnaissance patrol in the southern province of Helmand province killed seven insurgents. The troops were in the Nad Ali district when the insurgents fired on them from several positions using small-arms and rocket fire. The troops responded with small-arms fire, killing them. No troops or civilian casualties were reported. In the second incident, coalition forces killed three armed Taliban militants and detained another during an operation to disrupt the terrorist network in Ghazni province. The troops were in the Andar district, about 130 miles southwest of Kabul, targeting a Taliban militant believed to coordinate and direct recent terrorist activities in the area. As the force searched the compound, the three militants, who were armed with AK-47s, hand grenades and other military equipment, attempted to engage them. Coalition forces returned small-arms fire, killing them. The other man was detained without incident. The troops destroyed the enemies’ AK-47s, hand grenades and other military equipment. On Dec. 1, for the third time in as many days, coalition forces targeted the Haqqani terrorist network’s Islamic Jihadist Union and foreign fighter groups in Paktia province, and detained three suspects. The operation in Zadran district targeted a known Haqqani militant believed to be in direct contact with senior Haqqani leaders and to coordinate and direct terrorist activities aimed at destabilizing the region. Coalition forces searched the compound without incident while protecting five women and 16 children, and detained three suspected militants.

Related Sites: U.S. Forces Afghanistan Coalition forces target al-Qaeda liaison in Paktia and disrupt terrorist network KABUL, Afghanistan – Coalition forces killed two armed Taliban militants and detained three suspected militants during an operation to disrupt the foreign fighter and roadside bomb network in Paktia province, Wednesday. In Zormat District, located about 125 km south of Kabul, Coalition forces targeted a known Taliban militant believed to act as a liaison to al-Qaeda moving foreign fighters into Paktia to conduct terrorist activities.  He is also assessed to have ties to senior Taliban leaders in the region, coordinating roadside bomb and suicide attacks that target innocent civilians, GIRoA and Coalition forces. During the operation, Coalition forces encountered two armed militants, barricaded inside the compound, who engaged the force with small-arms fire.  The force engaged the militants with small-arms fire and killed them while protecting five women and nine children.  As a result, three other suspected militants were detained. A search of the compound revealed multiple AK-47s, other military equipment and a foreign passport. As a result of the operation, a fire started inside the building that eventually engulfed it.  While Coalition forces regret the damage to the building, militants and munitions that would have otherwise harmed innocent civilians, Afghan and Coalition forces were killed and destroyed. “Continued success in disrupting terrorist networks means we are setting the conditions for improved governance and better well-being for the Afghan people,” said Col. Jerry O’Hara, U.S. Forces Afghanistan spokesman. “The Taliban cannot bring that progress or a better way of life.”

U.S. Advisor Praises Progress of Afghan Army’s 205th Corps By Navy Seaman William Selby Special to American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2008 – With the help of mentors from several countries and every branch of service, the 205th Corps of the Afghan National Army now can plan and execute operations, a senior advisor said yesterday. “These are Afghan pilots flying Afghan missions in support of the Afghan people,” Army Col. Paul Somersall, commander of Regional Corps Advisory Command in southern Afghanistan, said to bloggers and online journalists during a teleconference. Three of the 205th Corps’ four infantry brigades have been assessed as capable of conducting independent operations with minimal support from their combat advisors. “One of the brigades recently planned, executed and sustained themselves during a seven-day operation where they drove deep into what is called an enemy sanctuary or enemy safe haven to destroy identified enemy forces,” Somersall said. “They were successful leading the operation, with less than 30 mentors and 20 other coalition soldiers, in addition to their 300 ANA ground force,” he said. “That was a great example of ANA’s capability to lead and conduct their own operations.” To train and develop the 205th Corps, Somersall said, the trainers had to earn trust from the Afghan soldiers. “How we do this mission is by establishing strong, trusted relationship with the ANA counterparts, and that is done by living, eating and fighting side by side in combat with our Afghan brethren,” he said. “Depending on the location and the circumstances, mentors are expected to spend between two and 12 hours a day with their counterpart.” Somersall explained that for the mentors to be effective, they must learn how to see the challenges and opportunities through the perspective of the Afghan people. While the mentors and the 205th Corps have concentrated on combat capabilities, they’ve also been meeting with village leaders to find out the needs and concerns of the citizens. The 205th Corps has responded by providing food, water wells, power generation, schools, as well as medical and dental outreach events, Somersall said. One of the challenges the ANA has faced in the past has been logistics support, but that has been resolved and the Afghans are operating on their own, Somersall said. “We’ve moved 90,000 tons of supplies since August using the MI-17 [helicopters], and these are all by the Afghans,” he said. Overall, Somersall said, the Afghan soldiers in the southern region of Afghanistan are tough, experienced fighters who are focused on fighting for their country and supporting the Afghan constitution. “The 205th Corps is committed to winning in southern Afghanistan and doing what needs to be done to grow larger and stronger every day, he said. “I’m convinced that with increased numbers of well-trained mentors and advisors, as well as additional combat enablers of aviation and intelligence assets, we move a bit closer every day to being able to transfer and leave security responsibility to the government of Afghanistan.” (Navy Seaman William Selby works for the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.) Related Sites: U.S. Forces Afghanistan Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan NATO International Security Assistance Force Defense Department Bloggers Roundtable http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=52167 Reconstruction Team Lights Up Afghanistan’s Zabul Province By Air Force 1st Lt. Amber Balken Special to American Forces Press Service KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 4, 2008 – The provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan’s Zabul province has finished installing 90 solar lights to benefit commerce and improve security in the province. Solar-powered lights illuminate the Qalat bazaar in Afghanistan’s Zabul province. The provincial reconstruction team in Zabul helped to install 90 lights across the province to improve commerce and security. U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Amber Balken   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The lighting problem originally was identified in Shajoy city, where citizens wanted to illuminate their bazaar, the largest in Zabul. Conducting business after sunset was difficult because of the lack of lighting and the security risk of conducting business after dark. In addition to extending time available for commerce, the lights now allow Afghan national security forces to conduct patrols safely. “We work very hard at developing and maintaining strong relationships with the local community and local leaders,” Army Maj. Gregory Ulma, Zabul PRT civil affairs team leader, said. “The community is hungry for development. Already we have noticed an uptick in commerce, and commerce is a sign of increased stability.” The PRT chose solar lights over electric lights due to the lack of electricity in Shajoy, Ulma said. Solar lights require less maintenance, and they can work for up to three days without sun. The PRT installed 50 more lights in the cities of Qalat and Shar-e Safi. “The success of this project is overwhelming,” Army Master Sgt. Tommy Phillips, Zabul PRT engineer, said. “We were able to provide the people of the communities with a much-needed service, and increase security as well.” (Air Force 1st Lt. Amber Balken serves with the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team.) Related Sites: U.S. Forces Afghanistan http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=52181 With help from local contractors, the provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan’s Zabul province provided 90 solar lights to villages to improve commerce and security. U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Amber Balken   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution ANP, ISAF soldiers provide supplies to village 4 Dec. - joint Afghan National Police and ISAF operation delivered supplies to the people in Shajoy district, Zabul province recently. Dutch soldiers provide security to ISAF Regional Command-South commander 4 Dec. - About 20 Dutch soldiers with the 42nd Tank Battalion out of Havelte, Holland, have been deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, since Oct. 14. ANA training improves soldiers’ lives 4 Dec. - With a normal training class size in the 600s, the Afghan National Army Training Command at Camp Zafar, Herat, is two weeks into its 10-week training cycle Dec. 2 with nearly 800 Afghan men participating, its largest group of recruits yet. Afghan boy, wounded in mine explosion, assisted by ISAF 4 Dec. - A young boy was evacuated to an ISAF medical facility at Camp Warehouse yesterday after having received serious injuries from stepping on a mine.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

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

 

            Capt. Robert J. Yllescas, 31, of Lincoln, Neb., died Dec. 1 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., of wounds suffered Oct. 28 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit at Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

 

            For more information media may contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 287-2520.