Forces Kill 60 Enemy Fighters in 3-day Operation

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2011 – Combined forces wrapped up a three-day operation in the Qiasar district of Afghanistan’s Faryab province yesterday, killing more than 60 insurgents, military officials reported.

Troops launched the operation based on reports from local residents of insurgent activity in the area. Forces also found and destroyed 23 motorcycles, several rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and numerous assault rifles with ammunition, officials said.

In other news yesterday throughout Afghanistan:

-- Security forces killed two armed insurgents who launched an attack of small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire on a coalition helicopter.

-- Combined forces captured more than 10 suspected Haqqani network terrorists, while searching for a senior Haqqani leader in Khost province.

-- Forces in Nangarhar province’s Khugyani district detained several suspected insurgents in an operation to disrupt Taliban activity in the area.

-- Afghan and coalition forces captured a suspected insurgent, while searching for a Taliban leader responsible for coordinating attacks on security forces in Zabul province’s Qalat district.

-- At coalition traffic checkpoint in Helmand province’s Garmser district, troops found 400 pounds of opium hidden inside the dashboard and backseats of a suspected drug smuggler’s vehicle.

-- Security forces found several weapons stockpiles and drugs in southern Afghanistan. Operations resulted in seizure of 7,165 pounds of ammonium nitrate – a banned fertilizer used to make explosive devices, 154 pounds of wet opium, three rocket-propelled grenades, an artillery round and a grenade.