Coalition, Afghan Forces Kill 10, Detain Seven

American Forces Press Service

Dec. 3, 2008 - Afghan and coalition troops today detained three militants in Afghanistan's westernmost province, a day after troops killed 10 and detained four others in separate battles with insurgents, military officials reported. In today's operation, three men were detained in the Shindand district of Herat province near the Iranian border. Afghan army commandos, assisted by coalition troops, detained the men as "persons of interest" in what is believed to be the headquarters of a bomb-making cell in the Zer-e-koh Valley. The men were carrying AK-47 assault rifles and wearing vests loaded with ammunition. Commandos encountered no resistance from the armed men, and no shots were fired.

Coalition and Afghan forces yesterday killed 10 insurgents in separate operations that resulted in firefights with militants.

In the first incident, a combined coalition and Afghan unit on a reconnaissance patrol in the southern province of Helmand province killed seven insurgents. The troops were in the Nad Ali district when the insurgents fired on them from several positions using small-arms and rocket fire. The troops responded with small-arms fire, killing them.

No troops or civilian casualties were reported.

In the second incident, coalition forces killed three armed Taliban militants and detained another during an operation to disrupt the terrorist network in Ghazni province. The troops were in the Andar district, about 130 miles southwest of Kabul, targeting a Taliban militant believed to coordinate and direct recent terrorist activities in the area. As the force searched the compound, the three militants, who were armed with AK-47s, hand grenades and other military equipment, attempted to engage them. Coalition forces returned small-arms fire, killing them. The other man was detained without incident.

The troops destroyed the enemies' AK-47s, hand grenades and other military equipment.

On Dec. 1, for the third time in as many days, coalition forces targeted the Haqqani terrorist network's Islamic Jihadist Union and foreign fighter groups in Paktia province, and detained three suspects.

The operation in Zadran district targeted a known Haqqani militant believed to be in direct contact with senior Haqqani leaders and to coordinate and direct terrorist activities aimed at destabilizing the region. Coalition forces searched the compound without incident while protecting five women and 16 children, and detained three suspected militants.