Sunday, August 31, 2008

Ongoing Operation in Afghan Province Kills 220 Enemy Fighters

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 31, 2008 - Afghan and coalition forces have killed more than 220 militants during operations in Afghanistan's Helmand province since Aug. 25,
military officials reported. Attacked repeatedly by militants with small-arms and heavy-weapons fire during multiple engagements, the Afghan and coalition soldiers have responded with small-arms fire, heavy weapons and close-air support, eliminating the militant threats, officials said.

Operations in the area have led to the discovery and destruction of multiple weapons caches containing ammonium nitrate, 107 mm rockets, motorcycles, 60 mm mortar rounds, pipe bombs, machine guns, rifles and small-arms ammunition. Several fortified fighting positions also have been destroyed.

No Afghan or coalition forces servicemembers have been killed during the operations, officials said.

In other news from Afghanistan, coalition forces killed several militants Aug. 29 during an operation to disrupt militant activities in Kapisa province, officials said.

The force attempted to search a compound in Nijrab district, targeting a Taliban commander believed to be involved with smuggling weapons into Afghanistan and conducting roadside-bomb attacks against coalition and NATO forces.

After receiving heavy AK-47 and rocket-propelled grenade fire, coalition forces instructed the militants to come out peacefully in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, officials said. Several women and children left the compound and were moved to a safe area, and the militants in the compound resumed their AK-47 and RPG fire. Coalition force called precision air strikes, killing the militants.

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

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