Forces Detain Militants, Capture Weapons Cache in Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service

April 16, 2007 – Coalition and Afghan forces nabbed eight enemy combatants and found a weapons cache during operations in Afghanistan over the past two days. Afghan and coalition forces captured four militants during an early morning raid today in the Barmal district of Paktika province. The detainees maintained a safe house for extremists responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, military officials said.

In another raid this morning, Afghan and coalition forces captured four militants in the Nahr Surkh district of Helmand province. Military officials said the targeted individuals have ties to a high-ranking Taliban leader.

Afghan border police and coalition forces seized a weapons cache yesterday in the Sherzad district of Nangarhar province after being tipped off by Afghan civilians.

The cache, containing 14 rocket-propelled-grenade rounds, five 82 mm mortar rounds, grenades and bomb-making materials, was hidden in a compound in Tutu village. Military officials believe materials that came from the cache were used in several recent improvised explosive device attacks in Sherzad and Khogyani districts.

Over the past two weeks, multiple weapons caches have been recovered from the Bati Kot, Shinwar, Achin, Khogyani, and Sherad districts of Nangarhar province.

"Afghan tribal leaders have called upon their people to turn in all weapons and munitions not used for personal protection," said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman. "Afghans are taking responsibility for their safety and security by reporting the locations of weapons caches."

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)

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