Airstrike Kills More Than 35 Insurgents in Kunar Province

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2011 – A U.S. military air weapons team last night killed more than 35 enemy fighters in the Ghaziabad district of Afghanistan’s Khost province, military officials reported.

The air weapons team, conducting a routine aerial security patrol, fired on numerous insurgents behaving in a hostile manner, officials said. A large number of insurgents emerged from a nearby building after the shooting began, and the air weapons team engaged them for more than four hours, they added.

In other news yesterday throughout Afghanistan:

-- Forces killed several enemy fighters and wounded several others during a gun battle in Kunar province’s Kunar district after a group of insurgents ambushed the troops with small-arms fire.

-- Security forces killed an armed insurgent and captured a Hezb-e Islamic Gulbuddin terrorist organization leader reportedly responsible for carrying out numerous bombing attacks and shootings on troops in Nangarhar province’s Khugyani district. The insurgent was shot after he opened fire on patrolling troops.

-- Acting on tips from local residents, Afghan and coalition troops in Khost province’s Khost district detained several suspected insurgents, including a Haqanni network terrorist leader who is responsible for trafficking weapons from Pakistan to foreign fighters in Afghanistan.

-- Forces detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban weapons trafficker in Zabul province’s Qalat district. The targeted trafficker reportedly is planning to provide local enemy fighters with numerous assault rifles and more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban district leader and another suspected insurgent in Ghazni province’s Ghazni district. The Taliban leader reportedly is responsible for launching attacks on local security forces.

-- Forces detained two suspected insurgents, including a Haqanni network terrorist leader who is believed to be connected to numerous attacks on local security forces, in Khost province’s Sabari district.

-- Security forces found several drug and weapons stockpiles throughout Afghanistan. The operations resulted in seizure of more than 270 assault rifle rounds, 100 assorted rockets and mortars, seven assault rifles, four pistols, four hand grenades and a homemade bomb with 50 pounds of explosives. Troops also confiscated more than 4,300 pounds of opium, 1,540 pounds of heroin, 462 pounds of acetic anhydride, 110 pounds of morphine and 13 gallons of ammonium chloride.