ISAF Joint Command operational update

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

01.17.2011

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – Numerous insurgents were killed, wounded and detained by Afghan National Security Forces and ISAF during separate clearing and security operations in southern and eastern Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, Jan. 17.

In Helmand province, during a security operation, coalition forces spotted from an ISAF outpost several insurgents emplacing an IED in Kajaki district. After gaining positive identification, coalition forces engaged the enemy position with mortar and small arms fire, killing one insurgent and dispersing the others.

In the same province, combine forces from an ISAF forward operating base observed several insurgents planting an IED in Sangin district. After establishing positive identification, combined forces engaged the enemy position with small arms fire, killing one insurgent and forcing the others to flee the area.

Also in Sangin district, an ISAF patrol was engaged by insurgents with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. Coalition forces returned accurate fire in the enemy direction, killing one insurgent. In the same area, during a separate clearing operation, an Afghan National Army and ISAF patrol spotted two insurgents emplacing an IED.

After gaining positive identification, combined forces engaged, killing one insurgent and scattering the other.

Again in Helmand province, an air weapons team gained positive identification on one insurgent planting an IED in Nahr-e Saraj district. The air weapons team engaged the enemy position, killing the insurgent.

In Ghazni province, an ISAF patrol detained one suspected insurgent who was owner of a shop used to store IED-making components in Andar district.

Also Jan. 17, Afghan National Security Forces and ISAF discovered several caches during separate clearing operations in southern Afghanistan.

In Kandahar and Helmand provinces, Afghan National Security and ISAF patrols discovered several large weapons and IED-making components caches in Zharaj, Panjwa’I, Arghandab and Marjah districts. The caches consisted of three 107 mm rocket, six 60 mm mortar rounds, three 155 mm artillery grenades, five 82 mm mortar rounds, 21 unknown mortar rounds, 20 hand grenades, one RPG launcher, 22 RPGs, 14 RPG boosters, one AK-47, seven full AK-47 magazines, 500 7.62 mm rounds, one rifle, nine fragmentation grenades, three recoilless rifle rounds. The IED-making components consisted of 30 victim-operated pressure plates, 100 feet (30 meters) of detonation cord, several bags of urea nitrate and 25 jugs of homemade explosive.

Initial reports indicate no civilians were injured and no damage was reported during the clearing operations. The weapons, IED making components and chemicals from all the provinces were confiscated and will be destroyed.

• Date Taken: 01.17.2011
• Date Posted: 01.17.2011 12:19
• Story ID: 63697
• Location: KABUL, AF