Afghan, coalition forces find weapons cache, shut down Taliban stronghold in Ghazni

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

07.10.2009

Courtesy Story

U.S. Forces Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan-coalition force conducted a complex mission last night in Giro District of Ghazni province to disrupt the Taliban network's operational and logistical support lines of ambush units in the region.

The combined force conducted the mission after intelligence sources indicated militant activity in the area. During the operation, a search of a compound unveiled a large cache of weapons which were confiscated and included the following items: 21 grenades, nine rocket-propelled grenades, three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, one loaded PKM, seven chest racks, more than a thousand rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and one complete improvised explosive device with command wire, five blasting caps, multimeter and IED circuit boards.

Upon the forces' arrival, they immediately encountered hostile fire from one of the compounds and engaged the enemy, resulting in several enemy killed and one enemy wounded. A number of armed militants fled the compound and were pursued by detachments of the force and killed. Four suspected militants were detained during the operation.

The Haqqani network remains one of the most lethal Taliban organizations operating out of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Area. Haqqani leaders conduct operations in conjunction with other Islamic militant groups with similar goals and interests. The network focuses operations against the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Afghan national security forces and seeks to expel coalition and NATO forces from Afghanistan to maintain its influence in eastern provinces.

• Date Taken: 07.10.2009
• Date Posted: 07.10.2009 03:45
• Story ID: 36191
• Location: KABUL, AF