Insurgent Attack Kills Two Afghan Civilians

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2010 – Officials from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan today confirmed that two Afghan civilians were killed during an insurgent attack on a coalition base in Kunar province, military officials reported.

Afghan and coalition forces transported local residents wounded in the attack to a nearby ISAF medical facility.

In operations yesterday:

-- A coalition airstrike in Badgis province, targeting a senior Taliban leader, killed several insurgents. The Taliban leader is believed responsible for coordinating numerous attacks on ISAF and Afghan troops in the province. Tips from local residents led troops to his location. Once troops had confirmation that insurgent activity was going on there, they called in the airstrike.

-- Afghan and coalition forces in Helmand province’s Nad’Ali district killed three insurgents and detained 20 others. Two separate security elements were patrolling the area. Both were attacked by insurgents. The first resulted in one killed and 20 detainees. The second patrol killed two insurgents.

-- Security operations throughout southern Afghanistan resulted in the capture of several suspected Taliban members. Afghan and coalition forces detained one suspect in Zabul province allegedly connected to numerous bombings in southern Afghanistan. Security forces captured several others in Kandahar with alleged ties to weapons smuggling and bombing cells.

-- Operations in southern Afghanistan also resulted in the seizure of several weapons caches. Afghan and coalition troops found more than 1,000 rounds of small arms ammunition, four hand grenades, four rocket-propelled grenades, two artillery rounds and numerous bombing-making materials.

In operations Dec. 7, security forces killed several insurgents who attempted to ambush an ISAF-Afghan patrol in Kapisa province’s Tagab district. Troops took fire from several enemy fighting positions along the road the troops were patrolling. Troops called in an airstrike after several hours of fighting. Several insurgents survived the airstrike, but were killed by the security force.

Also on Dec. 7, Afghan and coalition troops killed two insurgents in Helmand province’s Kajaki district, while targeting a senior Taliban leader. Troops arrived at the leader’s alleged location. Security forces were confronted by a man who threatened to detonate a bomb. He and another insurgent were killed after demonstrating hostile intent toward the troops. More than 210 pounds of opium and various weapons were found.