Troops Kill Four Enemy Fighters Following Ambush

American Forces Press Service

Nov. 12, 2008 - Afghan and coalition forces today killed four militants after being ambushed in an area near Afghanistan's western border, where a Norwegian provincial reconstruction team was ambushed last week, military officials said. Today's ambush took place as Afghan and coalition forces were en route to a meeting with village leaders in the Ghormach district of Badghis province, where they were going to assess the needs of villagers and coordinate humanitarian assistance.

The combined forces were attacked with rocket-propelled grenades, small-arms and mortar fire, officials said. As enemy forces began reinforcing and maneuvering on the patrol, Afghan and coalition forces fired on the armed militants, killing four.

No Afghan, coalition or civilian casualties were reported.

Yesterday in Afghanistan, coalition forces killed three militants and detained five others during operations targeting the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist networks in eastern Afghanistan, military officials reported.

An operation in the Andar district of Ghazni province targeted a known Taliban subcommander with ties to former Taliban commander Mullah Sharif, officials said. As the force approached the targeted militant, he and two others attempted to evade the force and took up fighting positions in a nearby building. The force pursued the militants and instructed them to surrender. Disregarding the instructions, the three militants attempted to engage the troops, who returned fire and killed them.

Also in Andar, coalition forces targeted a Taliban militant believed to finance terrorist operations and bring foreign fighters into the region. The force detained the targeted militant and two others without incident.

In Khowst province, Afghan and coalition forces netted a targeted Haqqani suspect during an operation to disrupt the flow of Arab militant fighters into the region. An additional suspect was detained following a search of the compound.

Afghan and coalition forces captured suspected Taliban field commander Laeek Shah in the Wurzi area of Khowst province Nov. 8. He was captured without incident during a patrol.

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