ISAF Chief Apologizes for Civilian Casualty Incident

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2011 – The International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan commander met today with family members of Afghan civilians killed and injured during a July 26 incident in the Nejrab district of Afghanistan’s Kapisa province, military officials reported.

Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen expressed his sincere condolences and apologized to Afghan family members for their loss during the meeting at ISAF headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Allen said any civilian casualties are a tragedy, and assured the families he would continue to make every effort to reduce civilian casualties in the fight against the insurgency.

Also today, a combined Afghan and coalition patrol found and destroyed a weapons cache in the Marja district of Helmand province. The cache consisted of two recoilless rifles, five 107 mm rockets, eight rocket-propelled grenades, 2,500 7.62 mm rounds and rocket fuses.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed a Taliban leader and detained a suspected insurgent in the Pul-e Khumri district of Baghlan province. The Taliban leader directed insurgents who conducted roadside-bomb attacks against Afghan civilians and Afghan security forces.

-- In the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province, a combined force detained numerous insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader linked to insurgent operations in the district.

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province. The leader is responsible for coordinating attacks and managing supplies.

-- A combined force detained two suspected insurgents during an operation targeting a Taliban facilitator in the Tarnek wa Jaldak district of Zabul province. The facilitator is responsible for the movement of roadside bombs and bomb-making materials.

-- A coalition patrol found 948 pounds of opium during an operation in the Garm Ser district of Helmand province.

-- In the Manduzai district of Khost province, a combined force detained numerous suspected insurgents while searching for a senior Haqqani terrorist network leader. The Haqqani leader is directly involved with planning and conducting operations against Afghan and coalition security forces. He also is responsible for roadside-bomb attacks and suicide-bomb facilitation in Khost province.

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents during a search for a Haqqani network leader in the Zurmat district of Paktia province. The leader directs 40 to 50 Haqqani fighters and multiple subchiefs who have conducted attacks, kidnappings and bombings targeting Afghan security forces in the district.