NATO Investigates Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force and ISAF Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, July 25, 2011 – An International Security Assistance Force helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan today, military officials reported.

Rescue forces came under enemy fire as they approached the crash site. Coalition forces returned fire and secured the area. All passengers and crew members aboard the helicopter were safely transported to a nearby base.

The ISAF is investigating the incident.

In other Afghanistan news today, the ISAF is assessing an incident that occurred in the Sayyidabad district of Afghanistan’s Wardak province. A coalition patrol struck an improvised explosive device while conducting a road clearance operation in the district. One civilian was killed and several coalition members were injured.

Following the IED explosion, coalition forces were engaged by insurgent small-arms fire. The patrol returned fire on the insurgent position. Once the exchange ended, ISAF forces conducted an assessment of the area in which three civilian bodies were found and one wounded civilian was discovered in a vehicle. ISAF forces provided first-aid to the injured civilian. At this stage it is unclear how the civilians in the small-arms fire incident were killed.

Afghan government officials have initiated an investigation into the incident. An ISAF assessment team has also been sent to the area.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained one suspected insurgent and killed one insurgent who attempted to attack them during an operation in the Chak district of Wardak province. The security force was searching for a Taliban appointed governing official operating in the district. He is responsible for coordinating and planning attacks against Afghan security forces and distributing logistical supplies to his subordinates.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition patrol discovered a cache of poppy seeds in a bazaar in the Delaram district of Nimroz province. The cache consisted of 11,000 pounds of poppy seed, placed in individual 100-pound bags.

-- In the Sangin district of Helmand province, an Afghan-led security force detained one suspect and confiscated several pounds of opium. The target of the operation was a Taliban leader who coordinates roadside bomb attacks and provides military guidance for attack planning.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force seized a weapons cache in the Shahid district of Uruzgan province. The cache contained nine grenades, four rifle magazines, 200 small-arms rounds and improvised explosive device making materials. All the weapons and munitions were destroyed.

-- A coalition patrol seized a weapons cache in the Nad’ Ali district of Helmand province. The cache contained four rocket-propelled grenade warheads, four boosters and 50 7.62mm rounds. All the weapons were destroyed.

-- In Zurmat the district of Paktika province, an Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani network facilitator and detained two of his associates. The facilitator provides intelligence, participates in attacks, conducts kidnappings and assists in roadside bomb attacks in the Mata Khan district.

-- In the Sabari district of Khost province, an Afghan-led force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation to capture an insurgent leader involved in coordinating and directing roadside bomb emplacements targeting Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In a separate operation in the Sabari district, an Afghan-led force detained several suspects while searching for a Hezb-E Islami Gulbuddin chief responsible for coordinating IED attacks against the Afghan army.

-- In the Shindand district of Herat province, a combined Afghan and coalition force seized a weapons cache containing 27 55mm rockets.

In July 23 Afghanistan operations:

-- An Afghan-led force killed numerous insurgents and detained several others during a search for a Taliban leader in the Zharay district of Kandahar province. The facilitator is responsible for coordinating transfers and purchases of lethal aid for insurgents. During the search, the security force was attacked by several armed insurgents. The security force returned fire and called in an airstrike that killed numerous insurgents. Several suspects were detained after the engagement.

-- In the Chahar Bolak district of Balkh province, an Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspects during a search for a Taliban leader. The leader is responsible for constructing, resupplying and commanding roadside bomb attacks in the province.

-- In the Arghandab district of Kandahar province, an Afghan-led force detained numerous suspects yesterday while searching for an insurgent leader. The leader directs insurgents responsible for emplacing and distributing weapons and roadside bomb materials in the Shah Wali Kot district.

-- An Afghan-led force detained several suspects while searching for a Taliban leader in the Qalat district of Zabul province. The leader coordinates insurgent attacks in the district against Afghan forces.

-- In the Ghorak district of Kandahar province, an Afghan-led force detained two suspected insurgents. The target of the operation was a Taliban leader responsible for roadside bomb attacks.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force detained numerous suspects during an operation in the Sar Hawza district of Paktika province. The operation was conducted to clear a known Haqqani network safe haven where insurgents directed attacks throughout Afghanistan.

-- In the Sabari district of Khost province, an Afghan-led force detained a Haqqani network leader and a suspected accomplice. The leader was involved in roadside bomb attacks and conducted reconnaissance against the Afghan army.

-- In the Gelan district of Ghazni province, an Afghan-led force detained one suspect while searching for a Taliban facilitator. The facilitator plans attacks and provides logistical support to other insurgents. He also has direct ties to senior al-Qaida members, and arranges escape routes to safe havens in Pakistan.

-- The ISAF is investigating an incident that occurred in the Nahr-e Saraj district in Afghanistan’s Helmand province where a known insurgent was targeted by a coalition helicopter. As a result of the engagement, five local children were regrettably injured. The injured children were evacuated to an ISAF medical facility and treated. ISAF is currently assessing this event, and more details will be released as they become available. Coalition forces take every allegation of civilian casualties seriously.

In July 22 Afghanistan operations:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed an insurgent attacker disguised in a woman’s burka during an operation in the Charkh district of Logar province. The force was searching for a Taliban facilitator responsible for building and distributing roadside bombs for attacks against the Afghan army.

-- In the Baghlan-e Jadid district of Baghlan province, an Afghan and coalition force detained two suspects while searching for an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator. The facilitator moves weapons, roadside bombs and personnel throughout Takhar, Konduz and Baghlan provinces.

-- An Afghan-led force detained one suspected insurgent during a security operation in the Ghorak district of Kandahar province. The target was a Taliban leader responsible for roadside bomb attacks and providing guidance for attack planning.

-- Also in Kandahar province, an Afghan-led force detained two suspected insurgents during a security operation in the Panjwa’i district. The force was searching for a Taliban leader linked to multiple attacks against Afghan forces.

-- In the Shah Joy district of Zabul province, a combined security force detained one suspect while searching for a Taliban leader. The leader conducts roadside bomb attacks against Afghan and coalition forces along Highway 1, and provides support to other Taliban leaders in the area.

-- An Afghan-led security force detained several suspects while searching for a Taliban leader in the Charkh district of Logar province. The Taliban leader is responsible for planning attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined Afghan/coalition patrol engaged and killed several insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. Numerous suspects were detained for questioning.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition patrol detained a suspected Taliban leader and an associate during an operation in the Jalrayz district of Wardak province. Several other men also were detained during the operation, and 44 pounds of homemade explosive were seized. The suspected Taliban leader is accused of building and emplacing IEDs and leading a cell responsible for attacks on Afghan police checkpoints and conducting illegal checkpoints.

-- In the Qarah Bagh district of Ghazni province, an Afghan/coalition patrol seized a weapons cache during a security operation. Two insurgents were killed when they opened fire on the patrol. One man was detained. The patrol sized three AK-47 rifles, one recoilless rifle, one rocket-propelled grenade launcher, 12 grenades, eight anti-personnel mines, three RPGs, a quantity of improvised explosive device components, five pressure plates, associated small arms ammunition, 110 pounds of aluminum filings, 66 pounds of plastic explosives and 66 pounds of homemade explosives. The cache was safely destroyed on site.

-- An Afghan/coalition patrol seized an explosives cache during an operation in the Ghazni district of Ghazni province. The cache contained eight 152 mm high-explosive artillery projectiles and four improvised explosive devices. The cache was destroyed.

-- In the Muhammad Aghah district of Logar province, a combined Afghan and coalition patrol seized a weapons cache. The cache contained three AK-47 rifles, seven pistols, 9,240 rounds of machine-gun ammunition, 1,300 pistol rounds and 62 pistol magazines. The cache was destroyed.

-- During an operation in the Zharay district of Kandahar province, an Afghan-led force detained a Taliban facilitator and several of his associates. The security force confiscated more than 4,000 pounds of marijuana and 2,000 pounds of opium. The facilitator operated between Kandahar City and Chaman, Pakistan. Reports link him to the movement of explosives and bomb components, and to the planning of attacks against Afghan security forces.