NATO forces kill 12 Afghan insurgents during weekend operations

[News_Editor]

NATO forces kill 12 Afghan insurgents during weekend operations

2011-09-25 14:13:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- Twelve insurgents were killed and at least seventeen others were detained on Saturday and Sunday during seven separate operations carried out by coalition forces across Afghanistan, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

During an operation in the Zurmat district of Paktiya province, located in the country's east, a combined Afghan and coalition security force killed five insurgents while searching for an alleged local Taliban leader. ISAF said the leader is believed to facilitate insurgent fighters to conduct ambushes and roadside bomb attacks against Afghan forces.

"The force was fired upon by several armed insurgents during the operation," ISAF said in an operational update, adding that they were armed with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and explosive warheads, as well as AK-47 assault rifles and grenades.. "After assessing the threat and ensuring no civilians were in the area, the security force called for precision air strikes. As a result, five insurgents were killed."

Another operation took place in the Tangi Valley in Sayyidabad district of Wardak province, which is also located in the country's east. ISAF said the area is being used as a safe haven for insurgents transiting to and from Kabul and allows for the movement and storage of weapons and equipment for use throughout the region.

"During the operation, the security force was engaged by several armed individuals," ISAF said. "Responding to direct fire, the force returned fire, killing four insurgents. Also, ten suspected insurgents were detained during the operation."

More than 40 security operations have been conducted in the Sayyidabad district alone so far this year. During those operations, according to numbers provided by ISAF, at least 39 insurgents were killed while 105 others were detained.

Other notable coalition operations were carried out in Kunduz, Helmand, Kandahar and Logan provinces. In Archi district of Kunduz province, ISAF captured a local Taliban leader who is accused of conducting roadside bomb attacks against Afghan forces in the region, as well as planning attacks against Afghan government officials.

In the Charkh district of Logar province, thee suspected insurgents were killed while security forces were searching for a local Taliban leader. "During the security operation, the force encountered armed individuals, responding to the immediate threat, the force engaged, killing three insurgents," ISAF said. It said one insurgent was armed with a PKM machine gun and two with AK-47 assault rifles. Multiple weapons and ammunition were confiscated during the operation.

In Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, a coalition security force discovered a weapons and drugs cache. The cache consisted of 20 anti-personnel mines, 352 pounds (160 kilograms) of drugs, 185 yards (170 meters) of detonation cord and 11 pounds (5 kilograms) of homemade explosives. ISAF said it would destroy the items.

Two other operations in Nahr-e Saraj district resulted in at least five suspected insurgents being detained. Another suspected insurgent was detained in the Panjwa'i district of Kandahar province.

There are currently more than 130,000 ISAF troops in Afghanistan, including some 90,000 U.S. troops and more than 9,500 British soldiers. U.S. President Barack Obama previously ordered a drawdown of 10,000 American troops later this year, with another 23,000 U.S. troops to return home next year.

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