War News for Thursday, May 31, 2012

NATO is reporting an additional death of an ISAF soldier, from this release yesterday, from an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, May 30th.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Friday, May 31th.

U.S. military trainers trickle back into Pakistan

Pakistani military denies U.S. military trainers' back

Reported security incidents
#1: Army Specialist Brett Allan Paige of Manteca is recovering from extensive injuries suffered in Afghanistan. The 2007 Sierra High graduate was wounded May 17 when an improvised explosive device detonated.

#2: A suicide bomber detonated a vehicle full of explosives outside a district police headquarters in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, killing five policemen, a government official said. The attack in Kandahar province's Argistan district also wounded six policemen, said Javid Faisal, the provincial governor's spokesman.

#3: In one attack, in Kunduz province's Dashti Archi district, a roadside bomb struck a vehicle carrying the head of the district's anti-terrorism police force, killing him along with a colleague and a police bodyguard, said district chief Shaik Sadaruddin.

Four people including the anti-terror officer of Dasht-e-Archi district in Kunduz province 250 km north of capital Kabul were killed as their vehicle ran over a roadside bomb Thursday, a local official said. "A mine planted by insurgents struck the vehicle of anti- terror chief of Dasht-e-Archi district at around 08:00 a.m. local time today killing four people including the anti-terror chief and three of his bodyguards," district governor Shikh Sadudin told Xinhua.

#4: A grenade tossed at a police checkpoint in Jalalabad city, capital of Nangarhar province, killed two policemen, said provincial police chief Gen. Abdullah Azim Stanikzai.

#5: Afghan national police have killed a dozen anti-government militants throughout the country over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a press release on Thursday. "In the operations conducted in several provinces including Kabul and Kandahar, 12 insurgents have been killed and four others arrested," the press release added. However, it did not say if there were any casualties on the police

DoD: Sgt. Julian C. Chase

DoD: Lance Cpl. Steven G. Sutton

War News for Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Spc. Tofiga J. Tautolo died from an IED blast in Bati Kot, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan on Sunday, May 27th.

The DoD is reporting two new deaths previously unreported by the military. They died in a helicopter crash in in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, May 28th.

 

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED blast in an unreported location in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 30th. News reports this is an Australian soldier.

 

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an in insurgent attack an unreported location in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 30th.

 

Railways unable to ship NATO containers: Bilour - Pakistan Railways is uninterested in seeking a share of Nato supplies through Pakistani territory


Reported security incidents
#1: At least 21 terrorists were killed as security jets attacked terrorist hideouts in Orakzai and Khyber agencies on Tuesday. Fourteen terrorists were killed in jet planes-shelling in Mamozai area of the Orakzai Agency, officials said on Tuesday. According to officials, the security forces launched an operation against terrorists in the Orakzai Agency and the jet fighters targeted terrorist positions in Mamozai, killing 14 terrorists and injuring several others.

#2: Separately, security forces claim to have killed seven terrorists and wounded four others in air strikes conducted by the forces' jets in Dwa Toai area of Jamrud tehsil, a sub-division of Khyber Agency, official sources said on Tuesday. Sources said that on Monday night, the forces' warplanes targeted suspected hideouts of terrorists in the far-flung Tirah Valley, killing the terrorists immediately. However, the local leaders of the area regretted and condemned the action of the forces and said that forces' airplanes bombarded civilian population and killed innocent tribesmen, which must be looked upon.

#3: A BRISBANE-based soldier has reportedly been wounded in Afghanistan. Sky News reported that the soldier was injured in an explosion. The incident comes as a homemade bomb killed a member of the NATO coalition in southern Afghanistan, hours after the Taliban attacked a hilltop police post in the north, killing eight Afghan policemen, officials say. The death raised the number of coalition troops who have been killed in Afghanistan this year to 173. The coalition did not provide any further details about Wednesday's attack. The policemen who were attacked by the Taliban on Tuesday evening in Badakhsan province's Warduj district waged a three-hour battle to retake their post, killing six militants in the process, said the provincial governor's spokesman, Abdul Maruf Rasikh. Two policemen and 11 militants were wounded, he said.

#4: Elsewhere in Afghanistan, three district government employees were killed by a roadside bomb as they were traveling to work Wednesday morning in eastern Nangarhar province's Deh Bala district, said district chief Asrarullah.

#5: Afghan and the NATO-led troops during a combine operation backed by airpower have killed 22 Taliban fighters including 18 foreigners in Khost province, 150 km southeast of capital Kabul, a local official said Wednesday. "In the operation conducted with the support of NATO-led forces in Woza village of Musa Khil district on May 28, four local Taliban insurgents and 18 foreigners were killed,"Asmatullah, spokesman for border police force in the area, told Xinhua.

#6: According to local authorities in eastern Nangarhar province at least 8 Afghan civilians were killed following explosion in this province. The officials further added the incident took place at Khogyani district after unknown gunmen attacked a residential house with hand grenades killing at least 5 family members including an Afghan child. In a separate incident at least 3 people were killed following an explosion at Haska Mina in this province, local officials said. Provincial governor spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai said the incident took place after after a vehicle carrying two government employees along with a local tribal elder, struck with the roadside bomb.

#7: The officials further added a number of Taliban militants ambushed an Afghan national army check post at Keshk-Kohna district in western Herat province, killing at least 1 Afghan soldier and injuring 4 others. A spokesman for Afghan national army in western regions of the country Najeebullah Najeebi confirming the report said at least 4 militants were also killed following the clashes.

#8: In a separate incident at Pusht-e-Rod district of western Farah province at least 1 Afghan soldier was killed and another soldier was injured following a roadside bomb explosion.


DoD: Spc. Tofiga J. Tautolo

DoD: Capt. John R. Brainard

DoD: Chief Warrant Officer Five John C. Pratt

War News for Tuesday, May 29, 2012

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Spc.Vilmar Galarza Hernandez died from an IED blast in in Zharay, Kandahar province, Afghanistan on Saturday, May 26th.


Afghan insurgents target safest province Bamiyan


Reported security incidents

#1: NATO officials said two coalition members were killed in a helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan Monday. The coalition said it is investigating the cause of the crash. Initial reports said there was no enemy activity in the area. Earlier, another coalition aircraft also crashed in eastern Afghanistan. There were no fatalities in that crash.

#2: Two separate US drone attacks killed at least nine 'terrorists' near Miranshah on Monday, security officials said. The first attack, in the early hours of the morning, targeted a militant compound in Hassokhel town, 25 kilometres east of Miranshah, killing at least five terrorists. The second attack targeted a terrorist vehicle in Dattakhel district, killing four terrorists, a security official told AFP.

#3: Afghan army and police, backed by NATO-led coalition troops, have eliminated 16 Taliban insurgents and detained 23 others during military operations within the last 24 hours, the Afghan Interior Ministry said on Tuesday morning. "The joint forces launched 10 cleanup operations in Kabul, Helmand, Kandahar, Sari Pul, Baghlan, Logar, Wardak, Paktia and Farah provinces, killing 16 armed Taliban insurgents and detaining 23 others," the ministry said in a statement providing daily operational updates to media.

#4: Four Afghan policemen were killed and one other injured Monday when their patrol hit a roadside bomb in northern province of Baghlan, a provincial source said. "A unit of Afghan Local Police (ALP) was on routine patrol in Alawudin-e-Mangalah area of Baghlan-e-Markazi district at around 5 p.m. local time but a bomb was detonated through a remote-control device when their patrolling van was passing the area," a security source told Xinhua anonymously.


#5: Three Taliban would- be suicide bombers were killed and two others sustained injuries as their explosive device went off prematurely in Nangarhar province 120 km east of capital Kabul on Tuesday, a local official said. "Five Taliban militants equipped with suicide vests and driving a car from Momandara district towards provincial capital Jalalabad to conduct mass attack but their explosive devices exploded prematurely killing three on the spot and badly injuring two others," the governor of Momandara district Noor Agha Kamran told Xinhua.

#6: According to local authorities in eastern Ghazni province at least 3 people were injured following missile attack in this province early Tuesday morning. The officials further added at least two missiles were fired by militants which hit near a mosque and Plan-3 areas of eastern Ghazni city.


DoD: Spc.Vilmar Galarza Hernandez

War News for Tuesday, May 28, 2012

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Pfc. Cale C. Miller died from an IED blast in Maiwand, Kandahar province, Afghanistan on Thursday, May 24th.

The DoD is reporting another new death previously unreported by the military. Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey died in combat operations somewhere in Helmand province, Afghanistan on Thursday, May 24th.

The DoD is reporting a third new death previously unreported by the military. Hospitalman Eric D. Warren, of Shawnee died from an IED blast in the Sangin district, Helmand province, Afghanistan on Saturday, May 26th.

West Point Is Divided on a War Doctrine’s Fate


Reported security incidents
#1: The U.S.-led NATO coalition in Afghanistan says one of its aircraft has crashed in the country's east, but no fatalities were reported. The coalition says it is trying to determine the cause of Monday's crash. Initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area. There were no reports of civilians being harmed or property damaged during the incident.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/28/4520825/afghanistan-nato-aircraft-crashes.html#storylink=cpy

#2: At least three people were killed and six others got injured when some unknown gunmen attacked a passenger van in Pakistan's northwest tribal district of lower Kurram on Monday morning, local media reported. According to the report by local Urdu TV channel Dunya, an unknown number of gunmen opened fire at a passenger van at about 10:00 a.m. (local time) in Char Khel area of lower Kurram, a restive tribal area at Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The van with some 20 passengers onboard was on the way from Peshawar to Parachinar, the headquarters of upper Kurram Agency, when it was attacked by unidentified militants.

#3: A U.S. drone attack early today killed at least five militants in a volatile northwestern Pakistan tribal region near the Afghan border, security officials said. The attack took place in Hassokhel town, 25 kilometres east of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, which is a known strong-hold of Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants. "The U.S. drones targeting a militant compound and a vehicle fired four missiles, killing five rebels," a Pakistani security official said. The compound came under attack for a second time after some 20 minutes, with U.S. drones firing four more missiles, he said.

#4: At least three people were killed and nine others, including a policeman, injured in a remote-controlled blast on Saryab Road on Sunday. Superintendent of Police (SP) Sikandar Tareen said explosives were planted underneath a donkey cart, while the target was a patrolling police van. He said unidentified men detonated the explosives when the patrolling vehicle of New Saryab Police Station passed by. Three passers-by – two onboard the donkey cart and rickshaw driver – were killed, while nine others, including a station house officer, sustained injures, he said.

#5: At least four militants, including a commander, were killed in an attack by security forces in the Sra Garhi area of Dabori, Upper Orakzai Agency, security officials said on Sunday. The clash erupted during early hours of Sunday when security forces advanced to clear the area of militants. An official of the security forces said that this area was a stronghold of the Gul Zaman group, the Orakzai chapter of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

#6: Afghan defense ministry following a statement on Monday announced at least 12 Afghan national army soldiers were killed or injured following roadside bomb explosion and militants attack during the past 24 hours. The source further added at least 6 Afghan soldiers were killed and 6 others were injured following militants attack at Laghman, Paktiya and Logar provinces of Afghanistan.

#7: In the meantime Afghan Interior Ministry following a separate statement announced at least 21 Taliban militants were killed during military operations by Afghan national police forces. The officials further Afghan police forces conducted 15 separate military operations in conjunction with the Afghan army, Afghan intelligence and coalition security forces at Kabul, Kunar, Nangarhar, Kunduz, Faryab, Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Maidan Wardak and Logar provinces of Afghanistan.


DoD:  Pfc. Cale C. Miller

DoD: Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey

DoD:  Hospitalman Eric D. Warren, of Shawnee

MoD: Captain Stephen James Healey

News of the Day for Sunday, May 27, 2012

Spokesman for the Governor of Paktia province says a NATO air strike has killed a family of 8 in the Gurda Saria area. There has been fighting in the area but the official says the family had no link to the insurgency. NATO says it is investigating. I'm getting mighty tired of these stories.-- C TOLO adds that Afghan forces were unaware of the air strike, and that the dead include the family's six children and their parents. The article does not comment but as far as I know, the current SOFA requires coordination of these actions with the Afghan military.

NATO announces the deaths of 4 troops in various incidents on Saturday without providing details.

British DoD provides detail on one death Saturday which was apparently one of the four. A soldier of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh was killed by a roadside bomb in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand province.

Poison gas attack on a girls' school sickens 45 students. The incident occurred in Taloqan, Kapisa province and was the second attack on the same school in a few days. The Taliban deny responsibility and claim they do not support such actions.

Quote of the Day

And the suspicious person was called out. I ended up tracking him. He's walking toward the rear of the truck. So now, I'm on the radio, "Hey, hey. I got eyes on. I got eyes on. He's got something in his hand. He's got something in his hand."

So I withdrew my 9 mm from my leg holster, I brought it up into the turret. I took aim in that direction. He started walking up again. He raised his hand. He bit down, and it's kind of like a movie scene that you would see — he bit down, pulled the pin on the grenade type of thing. Soon as I saw that, you know, I took my weapon off safe, took aim.

And he kind of threw his hand back, like if you were to take a swig of beer or soda pop or whatever. And he looks up at me and he says, "You want some peanuts?"

It was an experience that I don't think I'll ever forget. But my heart was pounding for about 45 minutes, and that took me about two packs of cigarettes at the end of the day just to calm down from that whole thing.

Turret gunner Spc.Michael Cella

War News for Saturday, May 26, 2012

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan J. Wilson died in Manama, Bahrain on Sunday, May 20th. from a complications associated with a medical condition. He was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

2 NATO soldiers killed in southern and eastern Afghanistan - In a separate statement on Friday ISAF announced, “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”

After Guantánamo, Starting Anew, in Quiet Anger



Reported security incidents
#1:  An American drone fired two missiles at a bakery in northwest Pakistan Saturday and killed four suspected militants, officials said, as the U.S. pushed on with its drone campaign despite Pakistani demands to stop. This was the third such strike in the country in less than a week. Two Pakistani intelligence officials said the latest attack took place in Miran Shah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal region. The officials said the victims were buying goods from a bakery when the missiles hit. Residents were still removing the debris, officials said. All of the dead were foreigners, but the officials did not have any information on their identities or nationalities.

#2: A total of 13 Taliban militants have been killed and 15 other suspects arrested during military raids within the past 24 hours, the Afghan Interior Ministry said Saturday. "Afghan police, army and NATO-led coalition force launched seven joint cleanup operations in Laghman, Kandahar, Zabul, Wardak, Logar, Ghazni and Farah provinces, killing 13 armed Taliban insurgents and detaining 15 others over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement.

#3: In a separate development, five Taliban were killed and four policemen and two soldiers with the NATO-led forces were injured when the joint forces launched an operation in Populzai area of Nahri Sarraj district in the southern Helmand province on Friday, provincial police spokesman Farid Ahmad Farhang told Xinhua on Saturday.


DoD: Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan J. Wilson

War News for Friday, May 25, 2012

NATO soldier killed following roadside bomb explosion - Improvised explosive device explosion kill NATO service member in southern Afghanistan on Thursday.

US Cuts Pakistan Aid

U.S. House reviews overbilling by Afghan contractor

French President in Afghanistan to Meet With Karzai‎


Reported security incidents
#1: Fareed Ayal, a spokesman for the police in Uruzgan province, says a police vehicle hit a roadside mine Friday in Chora district, killing one police inspector and wounding two other policeman.

#2: Daud Ahmadi, a spokesman in Helmand province, says a roadside bomb struck a bus the same day in Gereskh district. Two civilians died and four others were injured. He says the bomb was planted near a NATO supply site in an apparent attempt to target foreign troops.

#3: In Kandahar province, police chief Gen. Abdul Razaq says a suicide bomber on a motorcycle blew himself up in Spin Boldak district Friday, wounding one border policeman and two civilians.
#4: Four Taliban fighters were killed during gunfight in Balkh province Thursday, an official said. The Balkh police chief, Asmatullah Alizai, showed four bodies to reporters and said they were killed in a clash on Tashqurghan-Kunduz highway in Koh-e-Kanda area of Khulm district. He said the dead Taliban also included their commander, Faiz Muhammad alias Faizak. They had planned to attack logistic convoy of the foreign forces on Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul highway, he added.


DoD: 2nd Lt. Travis A. Morgado

War News for Thursday, May 24, 2012

Explosion kill NATO soldier in southern Afghanistan

US snub to Zardari in Chicago may derail Nato’s Afghan plans

Dr Afridi gets 33 years for helping CIA find bin Laden

Afghan Forces Take over Security In Helmand


Reported security incidents
#1: A US drone strike has killed eight militants in a Taliban stronghold of Pakistan's tribal belt, bringing the death toll from such strikes to 12 in two days, Pakistani officials say. "The drone fired two missiles on a house in Hassokhel town," 25 kilometres east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, a security official said on Thursday. "At least eight militants have died," a senior military official said in Peshawar, the main city in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Two other officials confirmed that the death toll had risen from five to eight.

#2: Ten members of a Dowagiac based National Guard unit were wounded when their convoy was caught in the blasts from two improvised explosive devices Sunday afternoon. Specialist Eric Lund of Ludington got the worst of it, losing both arms and suffering facial injuries. He also suffered back, pelvis and leg wounds. Two others suffered head injuries, probably concussions from the blast. Another vehicle in the unit triggered another IED but the injuries there were less serious. All of the men are members of the 1-126th Cavalry. Capt. Aaron Jenkins, a spokesman for the National Guard says they rolled into a trap, where a smaller bomb is used to bring the convoy to a halt, then a second bigger bomb is detonated remotely when more soldiers are exposed.

#3: Two bullet-riddled bodies were found in Mastung district and the provincial capital on Wednesday.

#4: The Taliban's shadow deputy governor for Nuristan province was killed in an airstike of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Want Waigal district of Nuristan province Wednesday, officials said. The ISAF aircrafts conducted airstrike on positions of Taliban in Hamshoz area in Want Waigal district, the Nuristan police chief, Ghulamullah told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). "The Taliban-designated deputy governor for Nuristan province, Sheikh Jamil-ur-Rehman, and his accomplice commander, Hakim Khan, were killed in the blitz," he added.


DoD: Spc. Arronn D. Fields

War News for Wednesday, May 23, 2012

U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Will Leave Post

Reported security incidents
#1: At least four militants were killed Wednesday after a suspected U.S. drone strike in Pakistan, two Pakistani intelligence officials said. The attack occurred at a compound in the area of Datakhel of North Waziristan, one of the seven districts of Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan, the officials said.

#2: Gunmen have kidnapped two foreign women aid workers and their three Afghan colleagues in the remote province of Badakhshan in northeast Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday, May 23. "Yesterday evening, five health workers, including two female foreign nationals, were kidnapped in the Yaftal area," the provincial governor's spokesman, Abdul Mahroof Rasikh, said.


#3: A total of 15 Taliban militants have been killed and 33 others arrested as Afghan forces and NATO-led coalition troops launched eight military operations within the past 24 hours, the Afghan Interior Ministry said on Wednesday morning. "Afghan police, army and NATO-led coalition forces launched eight cleanup operations over the past 24 hours, killing 15 armed Taliban insurgents and detaining 33 others suspected," the ministry said in a statement providing daily operational updates.The statement said that five other insurgents were injured during the raids conducted in southern Helmand and Zabul and eastern Nangarhar, Ghazni and Khost provinces.

DoD: Sgt. Michael J. Knapp
DoD: Sgt. Jabraun S. Knox

War News for Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Spc. Samuel T. Watts died at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. on Saturday, May 19th. He was wounded in an IED blast in Zharay, Kandaher province, Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 25th.

NATO soldier killed in Afghanistan

New Zealand troops to leave Afghanistan early

French leader determined to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

Nato plans Afghan pullout but Pakistan problem remains

Suicide bomber kills nearly 100 in Yemen


Reported security incidents

#1: Afghan security forces on Monday intruded into Pakistani territory near Qila Saifullah and opened fire on a passenger bus, killing one Pakistani national and injuring four others. According to sources, a passenger bus was on its way near Pak-Afghan border in Dumar Cross area of Qila Saifullah when Afghan security forces deployed along the border crossed into Pakistan and opened fire on the bus. Five Pakistani nationals onboard received bullet wounds. The injured were shifted to Quetta, where one of them was pronounced dead on arrival.

#2: At least four terrorists were killed and several others were injured in clashes with security forces on Monday. One volunteer of a peace committee was also killed in the fire exchange. According to details, security forces along with volunteers of the peace committee, conducted search operation against terrorists in Tirah Valley of the Khyber Agency. On being attacked, the terrorists resisted and fired back at the troops, killing a volunteer of the peace committee, which led to a heavy exchange of fire. Four terrorists were killed as a result, while several others were injured.

#3: Afghan police during series of operations against anti-government militants have killed three armed insurgents and captured eight others over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Tuesday. "During the operations conducted in Faryab, Kandahar, Helmand and Uruzgan provinces over the past 24 hours, three armed rebels have been killed, one injured and eight others made captive," the statement stated.

#4: At least 7 Afghan national army soldiers were killed and 4 others were injured following militants attack in eastern and south-eastern regions of the country. Afghan defense ministry following a statement on Tuesday announced 11 Afghan national army soldiers were killed or injured following militants attack and roadside bomb explosions at Paktia, Paktika, Maidan Wardak and Zabul provincesof Afghanistan.


DoD: Capt. Jesse A. Ozbat

DoD:  2nd Lt. Tobias C. Alexander

DoD: Spc. Samuel T. Watts

War News for Monday, May 21, 2012

Supply Lines Cast Shadow at NATO Meeting on Afghan War


Reported security incidents

#1: A police constable was killed and three others sustained injuries as gun battle erupted with Taliban militants in Uruzgan province 370 km south of capital Kabul on Monday, police spokesman in the province said. "The clash erupted in Albakan village outside provincial capital Trinkot city this morning when Taliban rebels opened fire on police patrol and police retaliated during which one police constable was martyred and three others wounded," Farid Ayal told Xinhua. Several Taliban militants were also killed in the firefight lasted for two hours, he said. However, he failed to give the exact number of causalities inflicted to the Taliban, stating several insurgents were killed.

#2:  Up to 11 Taliban insurgents have been killed in joint Afghan forces and NATO-led coalition troops operations within the past 24 hours elsewhere in the country, authorities said on Monday. "Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan National Army, NDS or Afghan intelligence agency and Coalition Forces launched seven joint cleanup operations in Kabul, Parwan, Kandahar, Helmand and Zabul provinces killing five armed Taliban insurgents and capturing 14 other suspects over the past 24 hours," the Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement. Another six insurgents were killed during an armed clash in Kamdesh district of eastern Kunar province over the same period of time, the NATO-led coalition or International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a press release on Monday.

#3: At least 8 Afghan national army soldiers were killed or injured while conducting military operations during the past 24 hours, Afghan defense ministry officials said. The officials following a statement on Monday said at least 1 soldier was killed and 7 others were injured during operations at Parwan, Paktia, Maidan Wardak and Helmand provinces of Afghanistan.

News of the Day for Sunday, May 20, 2012

Suicide bomb attack on a NATO convoy in Tirin Kot, Uruzgan Province, kills 2 NATO soldiers and 2 children, other bystanders are injured. Another account says the attack was actually aimed at a police checkpoint but the NATO convoy happened to be nearby, and that 3 NATO troops were also injured. ISAF has announced only that 2 troops are dead, without providing any further information.

Afghanistan leads the agenda for the NATO summit in Chicago starting today. Amid unusual spring heat, the 28 NATO heads of government, plus representatives of 60 other countries, will decide on the future of the Afghanistan mission as newly elected French PM Francois Hollande has said all French troops will leave this year. The linked story by Christina Bergmann of German broadcast network Deutsche Welle discusses the situation in depth.

As NATO leaders debate the future of Afghanistan, The Sunday Times reports that Afghan commanders are taking matters into their own hands by forging their own agreements with local Taliban.  Because TST has a paywall, I've linked to a summary from MSNBC.

In Ghazni province an hour from capital Kabul, Afghan army lieutenant Mohammad Wali admitted to the newspaper that he and a local Taliban commander were working together. . . . "We lost seven men in an ambush when I first arrived at the base," Wali, who commands 18 men, told The Times. "So I thought, why risk my life when there's another way?" The two share intelligence about military operations and plan to loot Nato supply convoys and divide-up the proceeds, the newspaper reported. . . .

"In almost every combat outpost I visited, troopers reported to me they had intercepted radio or other traffic between (Afghan forces) and local Taliban making mini non-aggression deals," Lt. Col. Daniel Davis told the newspaper.

Flash floods kill 19, leave thousands homeless in Sari Pul province. An unusually snowy winter has left much of the country vulnerable in the spring melt.

Hundreds of demonstrators call for the resignation of Mohammed Gul, district chief of Nharin, Bahglan province, who they claim failed to properly spend funds allocated for flood prevention and relief.

Afghan Defense Ministry reports 11 Afghan soldiers killed, 20 injured in various incidents in the past 24 hours.

War News for Saturday, May 19, 2012

US 'non-NATO' supply trucks cross Torkham

National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of May 15, 2012


Reported security incidents
#1: Militants carried out two grenade attacks in Sopore town and Batamaloo area of Kashmir today, leaving seven persons injured, including four policemen. The ultras lobbed a grenade at the Sopore Police Station, 52 km from here, at 9.55 a.m, police said. The grenade exploded at the main gate of the police station, leaving seven persons injured.

#2: In another attack within three hours, the ultras lobbed a grenade at a police picket in the busy Batamaloo area in the city, the police said. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside, they said, adding no one was hurt in the incident.

#3: Afghan security forces in conjunction with the NATO-led troops eliminated 11 Taliban militants in Pakitka province 155 km south of capital Kabul on Friday night, spokesman for provincial administration Mukhlis Afghan said on Saturday. "Security forces backed by NATO-led forces' aircrafts raided Taliban hideouts in Sarawza district Friday night killing 11 rebels," Afghan told Xinhua.

#4: A suicide bombing rocked a town in Khost province on Saturday leaving six people including the bomber dead, a local official said.

#5: According to a statement released by Afghan defense ministry, at least 4 Afghan soldiers were killed and 7 others were injured in various incidents across the country during the past 24 hours. The statement further added at least 2 Afghan soldiers were killed at Bala Buluk district of western Farah province while 2 other soldiers were killed in Kapisa and Helmand provinces of Afghanistan. Afghan defense ministry officials also said six Afghan soldiers were injured in Farah province, 2 in southern Helmand province and 1 in eastern Kapisa province.

War News for Friday, May 18, 2012

Cataloging Wounds of War to Help Heal Them

Two NATO troops killed in Afghan attack


Reported security incidents
#1: A businessman was killed and another injured when a remote-controlled bomb exploded in their spare parts shop near Scheme Chowk on the outskirts of Peshawar.The blast was so loud that it damaged windowpanes of vehicles parked nearby. An official of the Badbher police station said the explosion injured two and one of them died of critical injuries at the Lady Reading Hospital.  A bomb disposal unit official told Dawn that improvised explosive device packed in a ghee canister was placed inside a cupboard of the shop. He said IED contained steel nails and other metallic pieces but police didn’t find evidence for use of any remote-controlled device in the blast.

#2: According local authorities in central Maidan Wardak province at least 8 militants were killed along with their commander following NATO airstrike at Syedabad district while they were planting roadside improvised explosive device. The officials further added the militants were killed in two separate operations at Kaj Kala and Aftab Sia areas. Syedabad district chief Dr. Fazal Karim Muslim said at least 5 militants along with their commander recognized as Daud were planting roadside bombs at Kaj Kala area and were killed following a NATO air raid around 2:00 am local time. Mr. Muslim further added, in a separate operation at least 3 militants were killed at Kabul-Kandahar highway following an air raid. He also said the eight militants who were killed following the operations were working for Mullah Farid Qeyam and were involved in planting roadside bombs and other insurgency activities.

#3: Afghan defense ministry following a statement on Thursday announced at least 5 Afghan national army soldiers were killed or injured in three separate incidents. The statement further added an Afghan national army soldier was killed following armed attacked by militants at Wardaj district of north-eastern Badakhshan province.

In a separate incident two Afghan national army soldiers were injured following militants attack at Mano district in eastern Kunar province and another Afghan soldier was injured in southern Helmand province, the statement added. Afghan defense ministry officials following the statement also said Afghan national army soldiers killed a roadside bomb planter in eastern Khost province.

War News for Thursday, May 17, 2012

Overnight U.S. drone strike kills 2 al-Qaida leading members in Yemen


Reported security incidents
#1: A group of suicide bombers armed with explosive-laden vests, automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades stormed a government compound Thursday in western Afghanistan, killing at least seven people, officials said. One of attackers first blew himself up at the gate of the governor's complex in Farah province, then three others fought their way inside, said Raouf Ahmadi, the regional police spokesman. An ensuing two-hour gunbattle with the police left all the attackers dead, Ahmadi said. He said six policemen and one civilian were also killed in the attack, while another 12 people were wounded.

#2: Elsewhere, Taliban militants attacked a NATO supply convoy overnight in Herat province. Provincial police spokesman Raouf Ahmadi said one police officer, two security guards and a militant were killed in the fighting.

#3: Two police officials were killed while two were injured on Thursday morning when unknown assailants opened fire on them on the Eastern Bypass in Quetta. According to a police official, the deceased – both police constables – were identified as Murtaza and Sanaullah, while ASI Muhammad Hussain and Constable Deen Muhammad were injured. The officials were on a routine patrol when the attack took place. The assailants fled the scene after the attack.

#4: Afghan defense ministry following a statement on Thursday announced at least 5 Afghan national army soldiers were killed or injured in three separate incidents. The statement further added an Afghan national army soldier was killed following armed attacked by militants at Wardaj district of north-eastern Badakhshan province. In a separate incident two Afghan national army soldiers were injured following militants attack at Mano district in eastern Kunar province and another Afghan soldier was injured in southern Helmand province, the statement added. Afghan defense ministry officials following the statement also said Afghan national army soldiers killed a roadside bomb planter in eastern Khost province.

#5: Afghan Interior Ministry officials following a statement on Wednesday announced at least 14 Taliban militants were killed following clashes with the Afghan national police forces in eastern Paktia and north-eastern Badakhshan provinces of Afghanistan. The source further added the clashes took place at Haji Aryoub district around 1:30 am local time between Taliban militants and Afghan border police forces. Taliban militants ambushed a patrol convoy of the Afghan national police forces and at least 9 militants were killed in cross fire, Afghan interior ministry official said adding that Afghan security forces also seized 9 AK-47 rifles and some other weapons and ammunitions.


DoD: Staff Sgt. Israel P. Nuanes

War News for Wednesday, May 16, 2012

100 Canadian soldiers to leave Afghanistan

As Trained Afghans Turn Enemy, a U.S.-Led Imperative Is in Peril


Reported security incidents
#1: A suicide attacker was killed before arriving to his target by police of Kandahar security directorate yesterday. Interior ministry press office said to BNA, a suicide attacker wanted to explode his explosive device in the bazaar of Zheri district of Kandahar province was identified by police forces, and came under gun fire and killed.

#2:  An Afghan policeman was killed and five others injured Wednesday in a roadside bombing in northwestern Afghan province of Badghis, a provincial official said. "A roadside bomb was detonated through a remote control device at about 9 a.m. local time along a road in Muqur district when a police convoy was passing by the area," Deputy Provincial Governor Abdul Ghani Sabiri told Xinhua. He said a policeman was killed and five other police officials including district police chief Hajji Syia Khan was injured in the attack.

#3: Separately, three local elders were killed and one other injured Tuesday when a gunman riding a motorcycle opened fire in neighbouring Herat province. "A group of people including several tribal elders were holding a meeting in an open area over a dispute in Shindand district late on Tuesday but the crowd was attacked by a terrorist," a provincial government spokesman Mohiddin Noori told Xinhua on Wednesday.

#4:  A total of 18 Taliban insurgents have been killed in operations launched by Afghan forces and NATO-led coalition troops within the past 24 hours, the Afghan Interior Ministry said Wednesday. "Afghan police, army and NATO-led coalition forces conducted 17 joint cleanup operations in nine provinces across the country over the last 24 hours, killing 18 armed Taliban rebels besides detaining three other suspects,"the ministry said in a statement.

At least 4 Afghan national army soldiers were killed or injured in various incidents at southern Helmand, eastern Paktia and western Herat provinces of Afghanistan during the past 24 hours. According to a statement released by Afghan defense ministry at least 2 Afghan national soldiers were killed following a roadside bomb explosion at eastern Paktia province and another Afghan national army soldier was killed at southern Helmand province. The statement further added another Afghan national army soldier was injured in a separate incident at western Herat province of Afghanistan.

#5: In another development, nine suspected Taliban fighters were killed in an air attack launched by NATO-led forces in Jaji Mangal district of eastern Paktia province overnight, an official said Wednesday. "Nine armed militants were placing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along a road in Jaji Mangal district last night to target security forces but based on intelligence, Afghan forces called in a precision air strike killing all insurgents on the spot,"a spokesman for provincial government Ruhollah Samoon told Xinhua.

#6: According to local authorities in southern Uruzgan province, a tribal elder was shot dead by unknown gunmen in this province. The officials further added the incident took place on Tuesday afternoon at Herawood district after unknown gunmen riding a motorcyle opened fire on Jilani Khan. Provincial security chief spokesman Farid Ayel said tribal elder Jilani Khan was crossing the area along with his son and was killed by unknown gunmen.

DoD: Sgt. Brian L. Walker

DoD: Pfc. Richard L. McNulty III

War News for Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Appleton soldier death in Afghanistan ruled suicide

Local Afghan police fall short, study finds

At least 32 killed in new Yemen offensive on militants


Reported security incidents


DoD: 1st Lt. Alejo R. Thompson

DoD: Sgt. Wade D. Wilson

D0D: Spc. Alex Hernandez III

War News for Monday, May 14, 2012

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Petty Officer Second Class Jorge Luis Velasquez died from a non-combat related incident in Manama, Bahrain on an unreported date. News reports that he fell off a balcony, He was supporting OAF.

Reported security incidents
#1: An explosion in Afghanistan's northern Faryab province has killed nine people, including a provincial council member. Police say the blast in the Ghormach district of Faryab was triggered by explosives planted on a bicycle.

#2: At least five Afghan soldiers have been killed and two others wounded in a roadside bomb explosion in eastern Afghanistan, Press TV reports. The incident occurred late on Sunday when the soldiers’ military vehicle hit a mine in the Alishing district of the eastern Laghman Province.
#3: Five people were injured Monday in two blasts in Khost city, the provincial capital of eastern Afghan province of Khost, officials said. "A civilian man and four service members with Afghan National Police (ANP) have been admitted in a hospital in Khost city Monday afternoon," head of provincial health department Amir Padashah Mangal told Xinhua. "Initially, an explosion took place at about 12:30 p.m. local time near the provincial education department, causing no casualties but at the same time, as a police unit arrived at the scene to investigate the incident, another blast occurred leaving five people wounded," a police official in the city told Xinhua.

#4: Afghan police, backed by army and NATO-led coalition forces, have eliminated 18 Taliban militants within the past 24 hours, the country's Interior Ministry said on Monday morning. "Afghan National Police (ANP) in collaboration with army, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) or intelligence agency and NATO-led coalition forces launched nine joint cleanup operations in Kabul, Badakhshan, Helmand, Zabul, Wardak, Ghazni, Khost, Paktika and Paktia provinces, killing 18 armed Taliban insurgents over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement.

#5: According to local authorities in eastern Ghazni province at least 7 people were killed following armed clashes between Taliban militants and private security guards escorting NATO supply convoy in this province. The officials further added the incident took place at Andar district of eastern Ghazni province after Taliban militants ambushed a convoy of the NATO supplies. Andar district chief Sher Khan Yousufi said the clashes took place at Nani area on Monday morning, killing 4 private security guards and 3 civilians. He also said two Afghan kids and an Afghan men were killed following the clashes which took place in a residential area.


DoD: Petty Officer Second Class Jorge Luis Velasquez

MoD: Corporal Brent John McCarthy

MoD: Lance Corporal Lee Thomas Davies

News of the Day for Sunday, May 13, 2012

Two British servicemen shot dead by Afghan police in Helmand province on Saturday. MoD says one was from the 1st Battalion Welsh guards and the other the RAF. They were providing security for a meeting with Afghan officials. One of the attackers was killed, the other is at large.

An Afghan peace council member is killed in a drive by shooting in Kabul. "Arsala Rahmani was a former Taliban official who had reconciled with the government and was active in trying to set up formal talks with the insurgents."

High ranking NATO, Pakistani and Afghan military commanders meet to discuss border control after a break of several months. Pakistani General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, ISAF commander General John Allen, and Afghan armhy chief Sher Muhammad Karimi met in Rawalpindi ahead of a meeting of the Pakistani Defense Committee of the cabinet, which will discuss reopening NATO supply routes through Pakistan.

 

Six de-miners are abducted in Nangarhar. Not clear whether they are Afghan nationals.

 

Two ISAF troops killed by IED in eastern Afghanistan. No further details at this time.

 

Afghan Interior Ministry issues a press release claiming 18 Taliban killed in the past 24 hours. They have taken to routinely issuing these body counts. No way of knowing whether it's true, there are usually no details. -- C

 

Iraq Update

 

U.S. may abandon multi-billion dollar program to train Iraqi police that the Iraqis never wanted in the first place. Sounds like a plan to me. -- C Sayeth Tim Arango of the NYT "The training effort, which began in October and has already cost $500 million, was conceived of as the largest component of a mission billed as the most ambitious American aid effort since the Marshall Plan. Instead, it has emerged as the latest high-profile example of the waning American influence here following the military withdrawal, and it reflects a costly miscalculation on the part of American officials, who did not count on the Iraqi government to assert its sovereignty so aggressively."

 

Four killed in attacks on security forces in Ramadi and Baghdad.

 

U.S. officials are furious as Iraqi court frees Ali Musa Daqduq, a Hezbollah commander from Lebanon who worked with a Shiite militia in high profile attacks on U.S. forces and the abduction of British contractors.

 

And Colin Powell is still a liar and a war criminal.

 

 

War News for Saturday, May 12, 2012

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Friday, May 11th.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an non-combat related injury in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, May 12th.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED blast in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, May 12th.

MILITARY: U.S. troops wounded in Afghanistan edges near 16,000

Afghan commanders show new defiance in dealings with Americans


Reported security incidents
#1: A remote-controlled bomb exploded as a police van carrying four prisoners passed by an abandoned tin of vegetable oil in Peshawar city on Saturday, killing one policeman and wounding 17 others," local police official Mohammed Asif said. A woman and four policemen were among those wounded.
 
#2: A taxi driver was killed when a mortar bomb hit his cab in the upmarket Hayatabad area of Peshawar on Friday night, police official Tahir Ayub said. Mr Ayub said the headquarters of the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary in the area was apparently the target of the mortar bombs fired from the neighbouring Khyber tribal region. "However, three mortars landed in open spaces while three others hit a house, a taxi cab and a shop," he said, adding that at least four people were wounded in the attack.

#3: Elsewhere, the spokesman for the governor of the northwestern province of Badghis says four police officers were killed Saturday when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Qadis district.

#4: In a separate incident, 11 Taliban militants, an Afghan soldier and a policeman were killed Friday during a clash following Taliban attack on police checkpoints in Musa Qala district of southern Helmand province, a spokesman for provincial government said. "The fighting took place in Musulmani and Khowja Daad areas of the district and lasted for several hours," spokesman Daud Ahmadi told Xinhua on Saturday, adding "Security forces have also captured nine injured militants after the clashes,"

#5: Afghan defense ministry officials following a press release on Saturday announced, an Afghan soldier was killed following roadside bomb explosion at Musa Qala district of southern Helmand province on Friday. The source further added, another Afghan soldier was injured in a separate incident at Panjwai district of southern Kandahar province on the same day.

#6: In the meantime Afghan interior ministry following a statement announced at least 3 militants were killed, 2 of them were injured and 18 others were detained following military operations by Afghan police, Afghan army, Afghan intelligence and coalition securit forces. The statement further added the operations were conducted at Kabul, Helmand, Zabul and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan during the past 24 hours.

War News for Friday, May 11, 2012

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an small arms fire/gunshot wounds when an ANA soldier turned his weapon on ISAF soldiers in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, May 11th. News reports that the shooting was at a base in Kunar province killing one U.S. soldier and wounding two others.

EU to spend €50mn on private security in Afghanistan

Civilian deaths in Afghanistan fall 20 percent, says UN


Reported security incidents
#1: A solder from Wilkes County who was seriously wounded in Afghanistan Sunday is scheduled to be flown from a hospital in Germany to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Although Pfc. Chance Cleary is still in a coma from the blast of an improvised explosive device (IED) Sunday in Afghanistan and his long-term prognosis is uncertain.

#2: Four young children were killed on Friday when a mortar slammed into their family's vehicle as they attempted to escape Shalobar area of Khyber Agency, officials said. Two close female relatives were wounded in the incident in Khyber, where the military is fighting against local warlord Mangal Bagh and his Lashkar-e-Islam faction. Syed Ahmad Jan, another government official, said the family was leaving the Shalobar area of Khyber after authorities issued evacuation orders warning that the military was planning to expand its offensive on May 10. "There was an exchange of fire between militants and troops," Khan told, saying that a "stray mortar" had hit the family's vehicle.

#3: A television reporter, his brother and a friend were gunned down by unidentified men in Sindh province of southern Pakistan, according to a media report today. Aurangzeb Tunio, a correspondent for KTN, the most popular news channel in Sindh, was killed with his brother Rustam Tunio and friend Deedar Khaskheli at Lalurounk town of Qambar district last night. Tunio was sitting in his office when a group of 20 armed men arrived there and opened fire, killing the three men instantly, Dawn newspaper reported.

#4: A powerful blast rocked Jalalabad city in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on Friday.

#5: Eight people, including five children, were killed on Thursday when two roadside bombings went off in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, a provincial police spokesman said. "A roadside bomb was detonated by a remote control in Musulmanai area of Musa Qala district at about 10 a.m. Thursday, killing seven civilian including five children and a woman," spokesman Farid Ahmad Farhang told Xinhua. One man was injured in the incident, he said. He said a Local Police Force (ALP) unit arrived shortly after the blast but another bomb was exploded killing one ALP serviceman on the spot.

#6: Local officials in eastern Kunar province on Thursday announced several Taliban militants were killed following joint military operations by Afghan and coalition security forces. Provincial governor spokesman Wasifullah Wasifi said the operation was conducted at Nanrang district of easern Kunar province to clear the area from the militants. In the meantime Narang district chief confirming the report said dead bodies of two Taliban militants were found in the area and Afghan security forces have launched a search operation to find the remaining militants. Taliban militants confirmed the death of two Taliban fighters following the clashes and said 10 Afghan and coalition forces were also killed during the operation. However local officials denied Taliban’s claims and said Afghan and coalition security forces did not suffer any casualties.

#7: According local security officials in eastern Khost province, two militants who were planting improvised explosive device were killed following an air raid by international coalition security forces in this province. Provincial security chief Mohammad Yaqoob confirming the report said the militants were killed at Sabari district.

#8: In the meantime Taliban militants group claimed at least 4 NATO troops were killed following a roadside bomb explosion at Laknaw district of eastern Khost province. Local security officials confirmed an explosion took place at Laknaw district and said no one was killed or injured followng the incident.