ISAF Condemns Deadly IED Attack

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2011 – The International Security Assistance Force joined Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai in condemning the improvised explosive device attack that killed 18 people today in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province, military officials reported.

Initial reports indicate that a passenger bus detonated a roadside IED.

“The loss of innocent civilian life in this calculated attack is heart wrenching,” said Navy Rear Adm. Vic Beck, the ISAF’s director of public affairs. “Our condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims. We will work with our Afghan partners to bring those responsible to justice.”

In Afghanistan news yesterday:

-- An Afghan-led security force killed several insurgents and freed a local family that had been taken hostage during an operation in the Dilah wa Khoshamand district of Afghanistan’s Paktika province. The target of the operation was a Haqqani network leader who also supports the Taliban. While searching for the Haqqani leader, the security force was fired upon by several insurgents. One of the insurgents took some members of a local Afghan family hostage, while other insurgents continued to fire on the security force. The security force killed several insurgents and freed the family. The security force confiscated one machine gun, several AK-47 rifles, some rocket-propelled grenades, and blasting caps.

-- An Afghan-led security force detained one suspected Taliban member during a clearance operation in the Sayad district of Sar-e Pul province.

-- In the Dand district of Kandahar province, an Afghan-led security force detained a suspected insurgent facilitator. The facilitator acquires and moves roadside bomb material and weapons for insurgents in the area.

-- An Afghan-led security force killed a Taliban leader who attempted to attack them while disguised in a women’s burqa in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province. The leader was responsible for attacks against Afghan forces in the Charkh and Baraki Barak districts.

-- An Afghan-led security force captured a Haqqani network leader and several of his associates during an operation in the Sabari district of Khost province. The leader was involved in roadside bomb and other attacks against the Afghan army.

-- An Afghan-led security force detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani network leader in the Sabari district of Khost province. The Haqqani leader is responsible for roadside bomb and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A coalition patrol discovered a weapons cache in the Panjwa’i district of Kandahar province. The cache contained four AK-47 rifles, nine AK-47 magazines, 320 7.62mm rounds, one machine gun, nine mines, eight 81mm mortar rounds, 85 pounds of explosives and components used to construct improvised explosive devices.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition patrol discovered a weapons cache during a five-day operation conducted in Kandahar and Helmand provinces. The cache contained two sniper rifles, ammunition, and 220 pounds of explosives.

-- In the Spin Boldag district of Kandahar province, a combined Afghan and coalition force seized a drug cache containing 452 pounds of hashish.