ISAF Commander Condemns Bomb Attack

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

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2012 – The commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan today condemned an improvised explosive device attack that killed three ISAF service members, four members of the Afghan security forces and six civilians yesterday.

The attack in Faryab province also wounded dozens of other civilians and coalition and Afghan security forces personnel.

“‘Despicable’ is the only word to describe the cold, heartless way in which the enemies of peace carried out this attack -- detonating an IED in the middle of a large crowd of civilians,” Marine Corps John R. Allen said. “My deepest condolences are with all the families of those killed yesterday, and the entire ISAF community prays for the complete recovery of those injured.

“Our partnership with the [Afghan forces] is resolute, intractable, and will not be deterred by these evil and cowardly attacks of desperation,” Allen continued. “We are committed to the long-term partnership with our brave Afghan brothers to help them assume responsibility for the security of the Afghan population.”

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- Afghan soldiers and coalition forces killed an insurgent in the Khogyani district of Ghazni province, and an Afghan patrol killed an insurgent in the Sperah district of Khost province.

-- Coalition forces found materials used in the production of mortars and IEDs in the Sayyidabad district of Wardak province.

-- In the Maiwand district of Kandahar province, a combined force found and destroyed 700 pounds of narcotics.

In other news, an Afghan provincial response company, supported by coalition forces, seized and destroyed IED components and weapons in the Tulak district of Ghor province April 3. The cache contained 12 small-arms weapons, 37 bomb components, 18 ammunition magazines, a mortar sight, six mortar fuses, some small-arms ammunition, two Afghan police uniforms and 4.5 pounds of ammonium nitrate, a banned fertilizer used in homemade explosives. Several insurgents were detained.

In an April 1 operation, Afghan forces, supported by coalition troops, detained several insurgents and seized small-arms weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and 770 pounds of dry opium in the Khash Rod district of Nimroz province.