Afghan, Coalition Forces Inflict Casualties, Disrupt Insurgents

American Forces Press Service

March 23, 2008 - Afghan national security forces, assisted by coalition forces, killed more than a dozen insurgents March 21 when the combined force foiled a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province, military officials said. "The combined force was conducting a security patrol north of the Deh Rahwood district to demonstrate the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's commitment to secure remote areas in the province," said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, coalition forces spokesman.

Insurgents in concealed fighting positions attacked the patrol with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire, officials said. Afghan national security forces and coalition forces returned fire and advanced on the insurgent positions. Once the enemy fighting positions were located, close-air support was called in, eliminating the insurgents, officials said.

On March 20, five suspected terrorists were detained during two coalition operations to degrade insurgent activities in eastern Afghanistan, officials said.

Coalition forces searched compounds in the Andar district of Ghazni province targeting an insurgent with links to al Qaeda and foreign fighter facilitation operations. Coalition forces found and detained three individuals with suspected ties to the targeted insurgent, as well as al Qaeda and foreign fighter facilitation activities.

In a separate operation targeting a Taliban commander conducting anti-government operations in the Maywand district of Kandahar province, coalition forces found and detained two individuals with suspected ties to the targeted Taliban commander, officials said.

"Coalition forces continue to rout insurgent elements that threaten peace, stability and progress of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan," Belcher said.

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