Troops in Afghanistan Kill Enemy Fighters, Capture 14, Seize Weapons

American Forces Press Service

July 9, 2008 - Coalition and Afghan forces killed three armed militants, detained 14 suspects and seized weapons in Afghanistan this week. Forces captured five militants during an operation yesterday in Helmand province. The detentions occurred as troops searched compounds in the Req district for a Taliban leader responsible for smuggling explosives and weapons, including bomb-making materials and heavy machine guns, into the area, military officials said.

Coalition forces also discovered and confiscated an AK-47 assault rifle and ammunition.

In Wardak province July 7, forces killed a targeted militant and caught two others during an operation to disrupt the Taliban network.

The targeted militant, found armed with a pistol as coalition forces searched several compounds in the Sayad Abad district, has smuggled munitions into Afghanistan, and has conducted homemade-bomb attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, military officials said. When the enemy fighter threatened forces, they responded with small-arms fire, killing him.

During the operation, coalition forces discovered and confiscated a cache of weapons, grenades, ammunition and a vehicle being used for Taliban operations, military officials said.

Coalition forces killed two militants and detained seven others during an operation July 6 in Helmand province. The raid in the Req district targeted a militant leader known to smuggle explosives and other weapons in the area.

Troops identified two armed militants, who threatened the force. Responding in self-defense, coalition forces retaliated and killed the enemy fighters with small-arms fire.

Forces discovered assault rifles, bomb-making materials, ammunition and a cache of narcotics in a building.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 101 news releases.)