Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Four, Detain Two

American Forces Press Service

April 30, 2009 - Afghan and coalition forces killed four men and detained two others in operations overnight to disrupt bomb-making networks in Afghanistan's Lowgar and Helmand provinces. In Lowgar's Charkh district, Afghan and coalition forces conducted an assault to dismantle a Taliban network responsible for planning and conducting attacks. When the forces arrived at the rural village, they spotted several men moving in a field near the targeted compound. Using close-air support to contain the threat, they attempted to detain the men. One suspect was detained when he followed the forces' instructions, but four others were killed during ensuing encounters.

A woman who was outside her compound when the assault force arrived at the village was inadvertently injured during the hostile action, officials said. She was treated by a medic and evacuated to a coalition hospital for additional treatment. An elder family member accompanied the wounded woman and remains with her at the hospital, where she was listed in stable condition.

Three women and three children who were inside when the assault force arrived, followed the Afghan forces' instructions and were protected.

During a separate operation in Helmand's Nad Ali district, a combined force searched a compound without incident, detaining an insurgent believed to be associated with an al-Qaida foreign-fighter cell in southern Afghanistan. During the search, forces found more than 200 pounds of opium, which they destroyed a safe distance from the compound. Eleven adults and 16 children were protected.