The following is a compilation from DoD releases, from ISAF Joint Command, regarding operations of Afghan and coalition forces as reported on August 24, 2010. Reports come from the following provinces: Logar, Khost, Kandahar, Helmand, Kabul and Paktika
Numerous insurgents were killed or captured in recent operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported. Insurgents killed one Afghan boy in....
Logar Province
One Afghan boy was killed and another boy wounded when insurgents attacked Afghan National Army and International Security Assistance Force soldiers Aug. 23 in the Pul-e 'Alam District of Logar province.
ANA and ISAF soldiers were attacked while conducting a search near a compound. The combined force, recognizing the risk to civilians in the area, did not return fire, but instead moved a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle between the civilians and the attacking insurgents when they saw two children who were fleeing the area fall to the ground. Insurgents' small-arms fire hit only the two boys.
A medic rushed to the children's aid and began to treat their injuries. The unit requested a medical evacuation aircraft for the injured boys and support from armed helicopters in the fight against the insurgent element.
The two boys, both in their teens, were transported by coalition vehicles to a coalition hospital. The older boy died from the attack and the younger boy underwent surgery for wounds to his legs.
Khost Province
An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents in Khost province Monday, including a Haqqani Network facilitator directly responsible for the movement of weapons and money from Pakistan into Sabari district.
The security force targeted a series of compounds north of Mamad Kala in Sabari district to search for the facilitator. 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 identified and detained the facilitator along with two additional suspected insurgents. The security force discovered multiple weapons at the scene.
The security force did not fire their weapons and they protected the women and children for the duration of the search.
Kandahar Province
The International Security Assistance Force confirmed the capture of an improvised explosive device commander in Arghandab district during an Afghan and coalition security force operation Sunday.
The commander was detained along with five additional suspected insurgents in Kandahar province. His fighters are responsible for attacks against Afghan government officials and Afghan and coalition forces in Kandahar City and Arghandab district.
The security force targeted a series of compounds in the village of Mohammad Ya'qub Kalacheh in Arghandab district Sunday. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the compound peacefully and then secured the area.
After questioning all of the residents at the scene, the security force detained the commander along with several other additional suspected insurgents.
The security force did not fire their weapons and they protected the women and children throughout the searches.
Helmand Province
The International Security Assistance Force confirmed the capture of a Taliban facilitator for weapons, money, equipment and improvised explosive device materials, during an Afghan and coalition security force operation Friday.
During the operation, Afghan and coalition forces went to a remote compound in Lashkar Gah district to search for the facilitator.
Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the compound peacefully and then secured the area. After questioning all of the residents at the scene, the security force detained the facilitator along with two additional suspected insurgents.
The security force did not fire their weapons and they protected the women and children throughout the search.
Kabul Province
Afghan National Security Forces, partnering with International Security Assistance Forces, continued to conduct offensive maneuvers today aimed at setting security conditions for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The operation, which began Saturday with an air assault of troops from the 201st Corps of the Afghan National Army, U.S. and French soldiers, is focused on clearing Kabul province and rooting out enemy insurgent fighters.
The joint force has killed more than 35 Taliban fighters and captured several key Taliban facilitators in recent days, attempting to build on momentum from recently conducted offensive operations in the area.
In addition to insurgent fighters captured and killed, the joint force has recovered an assortment of bomb-making material including detonator cord, blasting caps, seven 82mm mortar rounds, 24 anti-tank mines, approximately 50 rocket-propelled grenades, and an unknown amount of homemade explosives used to make improvised explosive devices and suicide vests.
"What we are seeing are the metrics of a successful operation in an area that the enemy used to feel pretty secure operating in," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Steve Townsend, deputy commanding general of Coalition Joint Task Force-101 and Regional Command-East. "We are finding the raw materials used in IED construction and encountering an enemy that is clearly not happy that we are there."
The munitions were destroyed in place to prevent their use against Afghan and coalition forces as well as Afghan civilians.
"We will continue to prepare the region to conduct a safe, successful election that is free of violence and intimidation by individuals that don't want to see Afghanistan move ahead," added Townsend.
Paktika Province
An improvised explosion device in the Zarghun Shar district of Paktika province wounded seven civilians Monday.
The IED was planted in a wheelbarrow near a barbershop and was allegedly intended for local Afghan uniformed police chief.
Three of the seven were treated at an Afghan National Army aid station and the other four had minor wounds. The police chief was not injured.
"Put simply, it's quite sad. Afghans as a whole want a better life and we are here to help support those desires by building infrastructure, and continuing to support the government they have elected," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. "Violent attacks like this only end up hurting the Afghan people."
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