In Badakhshan's Village of Nawci, a joint patrol moved into Taliban controlled territory, talked with Elders, located a weapons cache and promptly destroyed the munitions unharrassed by bad guys who clearly thought better of attempting violence against a group of Real Warriors.
And a joint operation swept through the Uzbeen Valley, killing about 40 Talib and capturing their cowardly leaders. The US, French, and Afghan Forces no doubt surprised the enemy with the Air Assault that began the 5 day French led operation.
In Kandahar, a modern military hospital is achieving a 98% survival rate while treating hundreds of trauma victims each month, including an approximate 20% patient demographic of children wounded by the enemy. This success is despite the wounds being caked in mud, straw, and all matter of debris.
ISAF Command confirmed that a senior leader was one of several Haqqani terrorists captured as they gathered for complex suicide and car bomb attacks in Khowst.
In Konduz, Joint Forces were bent on capturing international terrorists recently uprooted from Pakistan.
Two Operations in Paktika kept Taliban leaders and minions on the run while searchs continued for Turks and terrorists that harass Afghan Civilians. Three bad guys dead, four captured.
And in Laghman, an Afghan Army determination to bring every body home met with success of recovering 8 Afghan Soldiers while the defeats of the enemy included more than 50 bad guys killed.
In Kabul, President Karzai, has joined General Conway in noting that the Taliban and other terrorists see light at the end of the tunnel as the US Administration continues to tell them that the US Troops currently destroying their ability to terrorize will be pulled out next July, regardless of groundtruth. Karzai expressed his concern to visiting members of the US Congress.
While in Kunar, the enemy was beaten back when they attacked an outpost. It cost the bad guys at least 4 killed, while their rounds killed at least one Afghan Civilian. Details Follow:
In Neighboring Pakistan, the common islamist enemy has openly threatened the lives of foreign aid workers who dare to try to help flood victims. Evidently islamist terrorists prefer that Muslims drown and starve than they might be grateful to Internationals for providing some food and shelter. Still, American Cavalry, without fear, rode into a small village in Afghanistan to do what can be done to help flood victims there.
KABUL - Afghan National Security Forces, partnering with International Security Assistance Forces, concluded their combined security sweep of the Uzbeen valley area Wednesday.
The operation, which began Saturday with a large joint air assault of troops from the Afghan National Army, French and U.S. soldiers, was focused on clearing the area, rooting out enemy insurgent fighters, and securing and destroying illegal explosives and munitions.
Following initial success in which approximately 40 Taliban fighters were killed and several key Taliban facilitators captured; operations transitioned focus toward the disruption of insurgent networks and the elimination of explosives and weapons in an attempt to provide a more lasting security.
The joint force consisted of 430 French soldiers from Task Force Bison, 360 U.S. soldiers from Task Force Iron Grey, 200 soldiers from the 201st Corps of the Afghan National Army that were integrated into both task forces, 60 Afghan commandos from Kandak Commando, and elements of the Afghan National Police in partnership with French Police Operational Mentoring Liaison Teams.
A total of 60 rockets and mortars were found and safely destroyed as well as a large quantity of homemade explosives and materials that are used in the construction of improvised explosive devices. In addition to the munitions, two laboratories used in the manufacturing of fake identifications and papers were found and destroyed.
The ANSF and coalition forces conducted several shuras with the locals during the course of the five-day operation, explaining what they were doing and addressing concerns that arose as the combined operation moved through the area. Particular attention was paid to cultural sensitivities and the heightened requirements of a local population that is immersed in the observance of Ramadan.
"This joint operation with the Afghan National Security Forces, French and American troops has been very successful, and it has been an honor for me to lead the largest air assault operation in recent times, especially with regards to the positive results," said French Army Brig. Gen. Pierre Chavancy, commander of Task Force Lafayette.
"The insurgents know now that we can go everywhere they are and we will remove illegal weapons and ammunition that they intend to use against the Afghan population, the ANSF and coalition forces," added Chavancy.
KABUL - The International Security Assistance Force confirmed the capture of a senior Haqqani Network commander during an Afghan and coalition security force operation Wednesday.
The commander coordinates and conducts attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, including suicide bombings.
The commander was among several insurgents detained after intelligence sources assessed the group was gathering for an upcoming complex attack consisting of suicide bombers and a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in the area.
During the operation Wednesday, the security force targeted a series of compounds in Khost district to search for the commander, who is also responsible for the transportation of weapons and supplies for attacks against Afghan civilians and Afghan and coalition forces.
Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the compounds peacefully, and then secured the area. After questioning all of the residents at the scene, the security force detained the insurgents.
The security force did not fire their weapons and they protected the women and children for the duration of the search.
KABUL - Afghan and coalition security forces detained several suspected insurgents in Kunduz province Thursday while in pursuit of an al-Qaida-affiliated extremist.
The targeted extremist is connected to several insurgents groups in the area, including the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and the Taliban. He was recently forced to leave his safe haven in Pakistan and moved to Takhar province with several al-Qaida members.
The assault force targeted a series of compounds in Kunduz District in pursuit of the al-Qaida operative. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit each of the compounds peacefully, and then secured the areas. After questioning all of the residents at the scene, the security force detained nine suspected insurgents.
The security force did not fire their weapons and they protected the women and children for the duration of the search.
KABUL - Afghan and coalition security forces continued their pursuit of a Taliban sub-commander responsible for leading attacks against Afghan civilians, Afghan and coalition forces in Paktiya province Thursday.
During the operation, three insurgents were killed and several more were detained.
As the assault force approached the targeted compound, three armed insurgents ran from the compound and posed an imminent threat on the assault force. The assault force engaged and killed the insurgents, who were armed with AK-47s, multiple grenades, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher along and multiple rounds.
After the area was secure, Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the compounds peacefully, and then secured the area. After questioning all of the residents at the scene, the security force detained three insurgents. They also found an automatic weapon with rounds located in the compound.
"These operations prevent violent extremists from being able to threaten Afghan sovereignty or maintain safe havens from which they can threaten the security of people around the world," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. "The pressure will continue on those standing in the way of freedom and stability for the Afghan people."
The security force protected the women and children for the duration of the search.
KABUL - Afghan and coalition security forces detained one insurgent in Paktika province Thursday while in pursuit of a Taliban facilitator involved in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices.
The commander sells and facilitates rocket-propelled grenades and works with Turkish foreign fighters.
The assault force targeted a series of compounds in Yahya Khel District in pursuit of the facilitator. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit each of the compounds peacefully, and then secured the areas. After questioning all of the residents at the scene, the security force detained the insurgent.
The security force discovered and destroyed multiple automatic weapons, an RPG launcher with four rounds and three hand grenades. They also found a pressure plate IED and Pakistani money at the scene.
The security force did not fire their weapons and they protected the women and children for the duration of the search.
KABUL - ISAF Joint Command - The Afghan National Army repatriated eight of its soldiers today who were listed as missing from an earlier operation to rid the area of insurgents.
The soldiers were part of a larger ANA force that participated in security operations in Laghman province that began, Aug. 3.
In partnership with U.S. Task Force Bastogne, French Task Force Lafayette, and Afghan commandos, the 201st ANA Corps conducted over 15 air assault operations, resulting in the death of approximately 50 insurgents.
The 201st ANA Corps' relentless offensive maneuvers pressured the Taliban to release the remaining ANA soldiers.
During the operation, weapons such as rockets, improvised explosive device-making material, rocket-propelled grenades, and stockpiles of illegal drugs were found and confiscated by the ANA.
The recovery of the eight ANA soldiers brings closure to the three-week long offensive operation led by the ANSF, with support from coalition forces.
The ANA maintained pressure against the insurgent safe haven in Methar Lam, Laghman province from the outset with the support of the Governor of Laghman and NATO forces.
The ANA also fought throughout Ramazan, not only to recover their Afghan Army brothers, but to achieve the initial objective of Operation Badpesh Kam Dergi. As of today, all of the kidnapped soldiers and police officers have been accounted for and all of the Afghan fallen heroes have been recovered.
KABUL, Afghanistan - A coalition force combat outpost came under insurgent fire Aug. 26 in the Darah-ye Pech District of Kunar province. The coalition force responded with mortar fire and called for air support.
An insurgent round was observed to have landed short of its target, allegedly killing an Afghan civilian in a cornfield. Coalition force operational reports also confirm that four insurgents were killed when precision-guided munitions were used on a ridgeline near where the insurgent fire originated.
International Security Assistance Force officials are aware of civilian casualty allegations as a result of the engagement and are conducting an investigation.
"We take allegations of civilian casualties seriously," said U.S. Air Force Col. James Dawkins, ISAF Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. "We're investigating to find out what happened."
KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan-led force discovered a large weapons cache in a remote village in Badakhshan province Aug. 25.
The cache consisted of 78 107 mm rockets with launchers, 47 82 mm mortar rounds, more than 1,100 rounds of 30 mm ammunition, 8,000 rounds of 7.62 machine-gun ammunition, 24 rocket propelled grenades, 60 fuses and anti-aircraft artillery parts -including barrels. With help from pack-animals supplied by villagers, the cache was moved to a safe location before being destroyed.
Soldiers from 1st Company, 5th Commando Kandak, partnered with agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Afghan National Interdiction Unit and U.S. Special Forces, discovered the cache in Nawci, a village suspected of being a safe haven for Taliban drug and weapon smugglers operating in the area and an infiltration route for foreign fighters operating throughout the northeast provinces of Afghanistan.
After entering the village, the partnered-force established security around the cache site to protect local villagers and then held a shura with village elders to discuss any concerns the elders had. Because of the remoteness of the village, the meeting was only the second opportunity coalition forces have had to speak with villagers in Nawci.
"The commandos and other agencies involved in this mission proved once again to be a formidable force, even in isolated locations," said Lt. Col. Donald Franklin, the Special Operations Task Force - East commander. "The destruction of this cache significantly increases the security of the region and will lessen both the weapons and drugs being trafficked through the area."