In this edition
Civilian injured during escalation of force incident near Sangin bazaar
ANP, Coalition Forces maintain pressure in Kandahar and Khowst
Commandos disrupt
militant activities in Kandahar
A-10 Unit Reaches 10,000 Hour Milestone
Civilian injured during escalation of force incident near Sangin bazaar
KABUL,
Afghanistan - International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) injured a
local man during an escalation of force incident 22 February.
A combined Afghan National Army (ANA) and ISAF security patrol was moving through Sangin District Centre 22 February, and as the patrol passed under the Sangin Flyover it was attacked by a suicide bomber detonating his device directly in their path.
ANA and ISAF forces acted immediately to protect civilians as they established a security cordon around the area, ensuring no further danger was present.
Once the perimeter had been established a man on a motorbike road directly towards the joint patrol and ignored verbal warnings to stop. The patrol followed ISAF escalation of force procedures and flares were fired, followed by warning shots.
Despite warnings, the motorcyclist continued to breach the established perimeter. Believing they were at risk from a secondary suicide attack, ISAF troops fired aimed shots and hit the man who then fell from his bike, rendering the situation safe. He was taken to an ISAF base close to Sangin District Centre where he received immediate medical treatment for his wounds.
ISAF regrets any injuries caused to civilians. It is mandatory for all ISAF forces to receive extensive training in escalation of force procedures in order to prevent civilian casualties, whilst at the same time taking appropriate action to protect themselves when threatened.
"This was an unfortunate incident that occurred soon after an attack by a suicide bomber", said Commander Paula Rowe, Spokesperson for Task Force Helmand. "The joint patrol was understandably concerned about a second attack and remained vigilant. They took the appropriate action in accordance with their training".
ANP, Coalition Forces maintain pressure in Kandahar and Khowst
February 27, 2009
KABUL, Afghanistan –Afghan National Police and Coalition Forces conducted operations Thursday in Kandahar and Khowst Provinces to disrupt Haqqani and Taliban networks, detaining seven suspected militants.
In Khakrez District, Kandahar province, approximately 50 km north of Kandahar, Coalition Forces and Afghan National Police conducted an operation to disrupt a Taliban network believed to be involved in the movement of weapons, supplies and foreign fighters from Pakistan into southern Afghanistan.
After arriving at the intended location, forces searched multiple buildings without incident. Several AK-47s and machine guns were found as well as bomb-making materials. After moving all persons to a safe area, Coalition Forces destroyed the weapons and explosives to prevent future use. Four militants were detained and forces protected 25 women and 33 children.
In Khowst Distict, Khowst province, approximately 10 km southwest of Khowst, Coalition Forces conducted operations to disrupt the Haqqani terrorist network known to involved in facilitating foreign fighters into Afghanistan.
After arriving at the targeted compound, forces searched the buildings. There were no women or children present and three suspected militants were detained without incident.
Commandos disrupt militant activities in Kandahar
February 27, 2009
KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army commandos of the 205th Corps, assisted by Coalition Forces, detained one militant during a compound search in the Maywand District, Kandahar Province Thursday.
The combined elements also discovered a weapons cache containing AK-47 and heavy machine gun ammunition, single-shot rifle rounds, 400 pounds of ammonium nitrate, used in making explosives and 100 feet of wire. The cache was destroyed in place.
Seventeen men, five women and 21 children were protected by the commandos during the operation. The commandos received no resistance, and no shots were fired during the operation.
In a Feb. 20 search of a compound in the same area, the commandos discovered several weapons caches containing 120 pounds of black tar opium, five AK-47 assault rifles with 17 magazines, three other rifles, one shotgun and three grenades.
No ANA, Coalition Forces or non-combatants were injured in either operation.
“The 205th Corps commandos are ruthlessly rooting out the enemies of Afghanistan, destroying their weapons and the drugs used to fund their inhumane activities,” said Ministry of Defense Chief Press Officer, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi. “The combined forces are committed to creating a secure and stable country and will not rest until the insurgents are no longer terrorizing the Afghan people.”
Militant IEDs injure one Afghan civilian in Khowst
February 27, 2009
KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan civilian was injured Thursday during a double improvised explosive device blast in Sabari District, Khowst Province.
The remote-controlled IEDs targeted a combined Afghan National Army (ANA) commando and Coalition Forces (CF) convoy conducting a reconnaissance patrol in an area frequently traveled by civilians.
The first IED detonated between two vehicles, causing no injuries or damage to the convoy. As the commandos and CF were securing the blast area, a second IED detonated, leaving on Afghan civilian with shrapnel wounds to the arm and chest.
Coalition Forces immediately provided emergency care to the injured civilian, who was later taken to a nearby Coalition medical facility for further treatment.
Three militants were detained, two at the site of the attack and one later as he was attempting to dig in the road. A search of his compound yielded weapons and explosives.
No commando, Coalition Forces or other civilians were injured.
“This attack by the enemies of Afghanistan shows their blatant disregard for the Afghan people as they indiscriminately kill and injure innocent civilians,” said U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Spokesman, Col. Greg Julian. “Their failed attack on the ANA commandos and Coalition Forces only caused further suffering for the people of Afghanistan.”
International Security Assistance Force Soldier Killed in Southern Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan – An International Security Assistance Force soldier was killed Feb. 26, as the result of an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan.
“On behalf of ISAF, I send our condolences to the family and friends of this valued member of our team,” said Brigadier-General Richard Blanchette, ISAF Spokesperson. “We will honour this soldier’s sacrifice as we continue in our mission to help ensure a better future for the people of Afghanistan.”
It is ISAF policy not to release the nationality of any casualty prior to the relevant national authority doing so.
Next of kin have been notified.
A-10 Unit Reaches 10,000 Hour Milestone
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - The 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron reached a historic milestone Feb. 24 when the unit surpassed 10,000 combat flight hours in the A-10 Thunderbolt II for a single deployment rotation at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.
Col. Raymond "Donk" Strasburger, 455th Expeditionary Operations Group commander, and Lt. Col. Sam "Spam" Milam, 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander, were the two pilots credited for reaching the milestone after completing a five-hour close air support mission in southern Afghanistan.
As the mission flight leader, Colonel Milam landed his A-10C Thunderbolt II first, and was welcomed out of his jet with a fire hose drenching by Army Lt. Col. George Chizmar, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing's ground liaison detachment commander.
"The 75th EFS has made [our organization] feel like part of their organization and they've become our family while deployed," explained Colonel Chizmar, a Pennsylvania National Guardsman who relays critical information from ground forces to the pilots during each mission. "I was honored to participate in this milestone event."
Colonel Strasburger received a much drier welcome from Colonel Milam who congratulated his wingman and old friend with a hand shake and a smile.
"We've had the opportunity to fight together in combat before," explained Colonel Strasburger, a Washington, D.C. native. "He's [like my] brother and this was the first opportunity I've had to fly with 'Spam' during this rotation."
The two veteran pilots, who have worked together numerous times since Colonel Milam was a young lieutenant, said the milestone was a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of the Airmen at Bagram.
"Nothing happens without the dedication, self-sacrifice, and teamwork that ensures our aviators are at the right place at the right time with the right ordnance, and in a position to provide close air support to our embattled Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines," explained Colonel Strasburger, who has deployed to Bagram three times - including one tour in Colonel Milam's current position. "From ammo and our weapons loaders to fuels technicians, maintainers and life-support; there are hundreds of Airmen making a difference for our men and women on the ground."
The 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron is deployed here from the 75th Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The 75th FS has two sister squadrons, the 74th FS, which is scheduled to replace the 75th EFS here soon, and an Air Force Reserve squadron, the 76th FS. Both units are stationed at Moody AFB.
Together the three comprise the 23rd Fighter Group, famous for inheriting the name of the original "Flying Tigers," a group of American volunteer pilots who flew combat missions in Indo-China during the early days of World War II.
The group also made history as the first group to deploy fighter aircraft to Afghanistan in March 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
"A-10s were the first tactical fighters to operate here because it was the only aircraft capable of operating with the conditions of the runway and taxiways," explained Colonel Milam.
Colonel Chizmar said the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the other Air Force assets added to the inventory here over the last seven years have provided vital support for American and coalition troops.
"Close air support is absolutely critical in the execution of ground operations throughout Afghanistan and is directly responsible for saving lives every day," he said. "Close air support is an enormous force multiplier in today's joint and coalition operational environment. It also offers the ground force commander a wide spectrum of response options in a precise and timely matter."
As time winds down on the 75th EFS's deployment, Colonel Milam reflected on some of the unique challenges his unit has faced including a two-month deployment extension and a surge in the number of daily sorties flown by more than 65 percent.
"Our total flight hours here will be slightly less than the entire fighter group back home flies in an entire year, but it was accomplished by a single squadron with less than its full complement of aircraft in less than six months time," the 19-year Air Force veteran from Quitman, Miss., explained. "This has been a unique deployment and this milestone is a manifestation of a great operations and maintenance team. Without the entire team focused 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week on getting the mission off the ground, this could not have happened."
Stumble It!
