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Coalition, Afghan Troops Raid Terrorist Compounds
7/17/2009
KABUL, Afghanistan - Coalition and Afghan forces raided
several terrorist compounds in eastern and southern
Afghanistan in the past two days, disrupting bomb networks and
seizing suspects and weapons, military officials reported.
The combined forces killed several insurgents in a gun battle
in Paktia province last night, and a dozen militants were
detained in raids that occurred in Logar, Paktika and Khost
provinces in the East and Helmand province in the South.
Afghan and coalition forces searched an enemy encampment last
night in the remote reaches of Paktia province in an effort to
disrupt the flow of foreign fighters and weapons by the
Haqqani terrorist group through the Khost-Gardez Pass along
the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
The force targeted the site, southeast of Gardez, after
intelligence indicated militant activity. Several insurgents
engaged the force with small-arms fire throughout the
operation. The force used direct fire and close-air support to
repel the attacks, killing several shooters. The force
continued the search and uncovered large munitions caches
throughout the encampment. All munitions were destroyed in
place.
In Logar province, Afghan and coalition forces searched a
compound thought to be used by a known Haqqani commander as a
bomb-making cell for attacks on coalition and Afghan forces.
The force targeted the compound near the village of Ebad,
southwest of Kabul, after intelligence indicated militant
activity. The force conducted the search without incident and
confiscated an AK-47 rifle and a chest rack. Three suspected
militants were detained.
Two groups of joint Afghan and coalition forces searched known
militant compounds July 15 in Khost and Paktika provinces to
disrupt Haqqani communication lines and the flow of money and
weapons into the regions.
The combined force targeted a compound north of the city of
Khost after intelligence indicated militant activity there.
The force conducted a search of the compound without incident
and two AK-47 rifles and a shotgun were confiscated. The force
detained five suspected insurgents.
In Paktika province, the combined force targeted a compound
southeast of Ghazni where intelligence indicated militant
activity. A search was conducted without incident and four
suspects were detained.
No Afghan national army or coalition force or civilian
casualties were reported during either incident.
Afghan and coalition forces searched a compound last night in
Helmand province thought to belong to a key Taliban commander
believed to be responsible for directing suicide and bomb
attacks in the area.
The force targeted the compound in the Nad Ali District where
intelligence indicated militant activity. The force conducted
a search without incident and uncovered a hand grenade in one
of the targeted buildings. The force detained four suspected
militants. |