War News for Wednesday, May 02, 2012

NATO is reporting the deaths of two ISAF soldiers from an IED blast in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, May 3rd.


Taliban announce 'spring offensive' across Afghanistan - "Al-Farouq spring offensive will be launched on May 3 all over Afghanistan," the militant group said
Iraq oil exports rise 8 percent in April

Obama Signs Pact in Kabul, Turning Page in Afghan War


Reported security incidents
#1: Taliban insurgents attacked a compound housing foreigners in the Afghan capital Wednesday, killing seven people. The violence began around 6 a.m. in eastern Kabul with a series of explosions and gunfire ringing out from the privately guarded compound known as Green Village that houses hundreds of international contractors. Shooting and blasts shook the city for hours as militants who had stormed into the compound held out against security forces. "A vehicle stopped here and six people wearing burqas entered the alley carrying black bags in their hands. When they entered the alley, there was an explosion," said Abdul Manan. At least seven people were killed, according to the Interior Ministry. It also said 17 were wounded, most Afghan children on their way to school. The area appeared to have calmed down by about 10 a.m. and NATO said all the attackers had been killed. The gate at the entrance of the Green Village was destroyed, with the wreckage of the suicide bomber's car sitting in front. The suicide car bomb that exploded near Jalalabad road -- one of the main thoroughfares out of the city -- was among the first blasts, Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi said. A station wagon that was driving past was caught up in the explosion and four people inside were killed, Sediqi said. A passer-by and a Nepalese security guard were also killed, said Kabul Deputy Police Chief Daoud Amin. The seventh death was not identified.

#2: A Dutch fighter jet dropped a bomb on an insurgent mortar position in the Afghan province of Wardak on Saturday, in support of coalition troops under enemy fire. The Dutch defence ministry reports that the strike was successful in breaking up the insurgent attack. On Sunday, Dutch F-16s fired flares in Logar province to scare off insurgents.

#3: A total of 25 Taliban insurgents have been killed and 29 others detained during a series of military operations across the country over the last 24 hours, the Afghan Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. "Afghan police, army and NATO-led Coalition Forces launched nine joint cleanup operations in Laghman, Kunduz, Helmand, Zabul, Wardak, Logar, Paktika and Badghis provinces, killing 25 armed Taliban insurgents and detaining 29 suspects during the last 24 hours," the ministry said in a press release.