Forces Target Taliban in Afghanistan's Helmand, Ghazni Provinces

American Forces Press Service

Oct. 19, 2008 - Afghan and coalition forces killed three militants in two separate engagements in Afghanistan's Helmand province, and detained eight Taliban fighters in Ghazni province, military officials reported. In Helmand, militants attacked Afghan and coalition forces conducting a combat security patrol. Militants used rocket-propelled grenades and machine-gun fire. Afghan and coalition forces responded with small-arms fire, killing two militants.

In the second engagement, militants attacked a patrol with small-arms, machine-gun and rifle fire. Afghan and coalition forces responded, killing one militant.

No Afghan or coalition forces were injured in either engagement, officials said.

In Ghazni, eight militants were detained Oct. 17 in multiple coalition operations aimed at disrupting a roadside-bomb cell and the Taliban terrorist network, officials said.

Coalition forces conducted two operations in the province's Andar district, targeting Taliban-associated militants believed to coordinate and direct roadside bomb attacks, officials said, and also are suspected of facilitating the movement of foreign fighters into Afghanistan. The search of a compound in Andar netted the targeted militant and two others. A second operation resulted in the capture of the second targeted militant.

In Waghez district, coalition forces targeted a third Taliban fighter and several associates. As the force approached the militants, two failed to comply with directions. After repeated commands, one of the militants displayed hostile intent and was engaged with small arms fire, wounding him, officials said. He was taken to a coalition medical facility for treatment. Four other militants were detained without incident.

(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)