Air Weapons Team Kills Several Insurgents

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

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2012 – A coalition air weapons team killed several insurgents in the Asadabad district of Afghanistan’s Kunar province yesterday, military officials reported.

The insurgents were firing on an International Security Assistance Force installation in the area, officials said. When the air weapons team arrived, the insurgents turned their fire against the aircraft. The aircrew returned fire, killing several insurgents.

No civilians were harmed during the exchange, officials said.

In March 5 Afghanistan operations:

-- A combined force detained two suspects and found a bomb-making facility containing various components and more than 550 pounds of ammonium nitrate – a banned fertilizer used in homemade bombs -- in the Zharay district of Kandahar province. The security force seized some of the materials and destroyed the rest.

-- A combined force detained numerous suspects and seized small arms, ammunition, and more than 88 pounds of opium and hashish in the Bala Boluk district of Farah province. The security force seized some of the materials and destroyed the rest.

In other news, Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, ISAF commander, traveled to Helmand province March 5. Gov. Mohammad Gulab Mangal told Allen that Helmand had made great progress due to the dedication of the Afghan security forces and ISAF troops who patrol the area with them.

“I appreciate your soldiers serving and dying for our country,” Mangal told Allen during their meeting. Allen also spoke to Afghan personnel and their ISAF advisors at Helmand’s provincial operational coordination center, and later met with Regional Command Southwest Marines at Forward Operating Base Marjah.