An Afghan-led force, advised by members of Special Operations Task Force – South, was tipped off by locals to a large weapons cache and recovered a number of improvised explosive devices and IED-making material, Sept. 16, in the Arghandab River Valley.
The force, led by Gen. Abdul Rizziq, Afghan Border Patrol commander, Gen. Niam, chief, National Directorate of Security - Kandahar, and Col. Zamari Khan, district chief of police, Arghandab River Valley, swept through the valley on a clearing operation to limit insurgent freedom of movement and bring security to the valley.
During the operation, locals approached the force and led them to an insurgent weapons stockpile.
Recovered and/or destroyed during the operation were: more than 150 Pressure-Plate IEDs or PPIED making material, nine anti-tank mines, four remote-controlled IEDs, two motorcycle ‘vehicle-borne’ IEDs, one suicide vest, more than 400 pounds of ammonium nitrate (used in making homemade explosives), and a mix of other materials.
“This has been a very successful partnership between our command and that of the Afghan National Security forces,” said Lt. Col. Christopher N. Riga, commander, Special Operations Task Force – South. “Working through local elders and through the local security force commander is truly effective.”
The partnered force executed the operation at the request of Governor Tooryalai Wesa, governor of Kandahar Province, and Amhed Wali Karzai, head of the Kandahar Provincial Council and brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
The operation came together under a short timeline, and the execution and leadership of the Afghan Force had the operation “moving in the right direction from the start,” Riga said.
| Date Taken: |
09.17.2010 |
| Date Posted: |
09.17.2010 13:03 |
| Story ID: |
56484 |
| Location: |
AF |
| Web Views: |
132 |
| Downloads: |
6 |
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