War News for Friday, August 31, 2012

Reported security incidents
#1: Insurgent rockets killed five Afghan civilians Thursday while they were waiting on the side of a road for a bus in the east of the country, government officials said. Insurgents appeared to be aiming at a nearby Afghan army base but the rockets missed their target, said the deputy police chief for Logar province, Raeis Khan Rahimzai says another 10 people were wounded by the barrage in Baraki Barak district.
 
#2: Four private guards were killed and three more wounded after Taliban attack in Bala Balok district of Farah province, police said Thursday. Taliban gunmen attacked a logistic convoy of foreign forces in Gandab area of Bala Balok district, killing four guards and wounding three more, Abdul Rauf Ahmadi, spokesman for police in western Afghanistan, told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). He said four oil tankers and a heavy transport vehicle was also destroyed in the attack, adding the attackers also suffered casualties but they had no accurate details.

#3: At least 18 militants were killed on Thursday during an operation conducted by security forces in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region of Bajaur agency, local media reported. Local media quoted security forces as saying that two commanders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were also killed on Thursday during the operation.


AU/DoD: Corporal Mervyn McDonald

AU/DoD: Private Nathanael Galagher

War News for Thursday, August 30, 2012

NATO is reporting the deaths of Three ISAF soldiers from small arms fire/gun shot wounds from an ANA soldier in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, August 29th. News reports that an ANA soldier shot dead Three Australian soldiers inside a patrol base near Tarin Kowt in, Uruzgan province. Two additional soldiers were wounded in the attack.

NATO is reporting the deaths of two ISAF soldiers in a helicopter crash in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, August 30th. News reports these are Australian soldiers.

Australia mourns for 5 soldiers killed in Afghanistan, country's deadliest hours since Vietnam


Reported security incidents
#1: At least 12 villagers have been killed in an airstrike carried out by US-led foreign forces in Afghanistan’s Ghor Province, Press TV reports. Eight people were also wounded in the attack on Wednesday. The US-led NATO confirmed the attack, but it claimed the airstrike targeted militants.

#2: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a Shia Muslim judge along with his driver and police bodyguard on Saryab Road, Thursday, in a suspected sectarian attack, police said. The incident took place in Quetta, the capital of the oil and gas rich province of Baluchistan, as Zulfiqar Naqvi was travelling to his office. “Gunmen were waiting for him at a railway crossing, the moment the car slowed down, the assailants sprayed bullets and fled,” senior police officer Wazir Khan Nasir told AFP.

#3: An attack on Spanish troops outside the northwestern Afghan town of Ludina left one paratrooper wounded, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The legionnaire paratrooper, identified as J.F.F., suffered wounds in both legs and was initially treated at the Spanish base hospital in Qala i Naw, although his life is not in danger, the ministry said.
 
#4: According to local authorities in eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan, unknown gunmen assassinated provincial council chief in this province. The incident took place on Wednesday evening after unknown gunmen opened fire on Ghazni provincial chief in Nawabad area.

War News for Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The DoD is reporting the death of Staff Sgt. Jessica M. Wing who died from a non-combat related incident in Kuwait City on Monday, August 27th. She was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, August 28th.

Reported security incidents
#1: Five Afghan army soldiers were killed on Wednesday in an insurgent roadside bombing and suicide attack in an eastern Afghanistan militant hotbed. The soldiers were attacked late yesterday in Kunar province by a suicide bomber on foot after a smaller explosion caused by a roadside bombing, a tactic that Afghan insurgents use often, the officials said. "First there was an improvised roadside bombing that hit an army convoy," Mohammad Amin Tokhi, the Kunar provincial deputy governor, told . "Some of the soldiers got out of their vehicles to check it out. A suicide bomber ran at them and detonated. Five of our soldiers were martyred and another was wounded." The incident took place in Manogai district.

#2: Heavily-armed Taliban militants attacked a check post in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt killing at least nine soldiers and losing 10 of their own men, security officials said today. Fighting erupted in South Waziristan tribal region after militants attacked the check post at Farhang Baba area, the officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels. Nine soldiers were killed and several others injured in the attack. The security forces launched a counter-attack and killed 10 militants, a security official said. Eight more militants were injured in the clashes. The security forces launched a search operation in the region after repulsing the attack.

#3: Two people were killed and a further 10 injured when a bomb exploded on railway tracks in southern Pakistan early on Wednesday. The explosion, which caused two of the train’s cars to derail, occurred in the town of Thul at around 2:00am, police official Murtaza Mirani said.

#4: A Nevada Army National Guard Chinook helicopter was destroyed in a non-hostile incident after the crew attempted to land it in eastern Afghanistan, but no one on board was significantly injured, Guard officials in Carson City said Tuesday.

#5: Fresh clashes in Pakistan's north-western tribal areas along the Afghan border on Tuesday left three soldiers and 11 militants dead, security officials said. The latest fighting occurred as part of a Pakistan Army operation to repel Taliban militants who had crossed over from Kunar province in Afghanistan earlier on Friday and occupied the village of Batwar in the Bajaur tribal district. Officials said several soldiers were also missing in the clashes. The fighting has so far left 50 dead, including 31 militants, three soldiers and two members of a government-backed peace committee. "During the ongoing clashes in the Batwar border area of Bajaur, 11 militants were killed while several were injured," a senior security official based in Peshawar told AFP.

#6: Afghan police and army, backed by the NATO-led coalition forces, have killed 10 Taliban insurgents and detained 17 others in different provinces in the past 24 hours, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday. "Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan Army and NATO-led coalition forces launched nine joint cleanup operations in Kunar, Kunduz, Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan, Logar, Paktia, Helmand and Nimroz provinces, killing 10 armed Taliban insurgents and detaining 17 others over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement.

#7: According to local authorities in eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan, at least four Afghan civilians belonging to the same family were killed following a roadside bomb blast in this province. The officials further added the incident took place late Tuesday night at the second district of eastern Ghazni city, killing four civilians and injuring another one.


DoD: Pfc. Patricia L. Horne

DoD: Sgt. Christopher J. Birdwell

DoD: Spc. Mabry J. Anders

DoD: Staff Sgt. Jessica M. Wing

War News for Tuesday, August 28, 2012

NATO is reporting the deaths of two ISAF soldiers from a small arms fire attack from an ANA soldier in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, August 27th.


Prosecutors: 'Anarchist' group of U.S. soldiers aimed to overthrow government


Reported security incidents
#1: NATO says one of its helicopters has crashed in eastern Afghanistan. It says no one was killed. Lt. j.g. Amy Hession says the helicopter made a hard landing in the eastern province of Logar late Monday night. She says there were no initial reports of insurgent activity nearby.

#2: A "massive" suicide truck bombing in Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar killed four civilians and wounded the provincial police chief overnight, authorities said Tuesday. The bombing targeted General Abdul Raziq, the Kandahar provincial police chief, who has a strong anti-Taliban background. Raziq survived the bombing with "minor" injuries to his face, arms and a leg. Faisal said four civilians were killed and about 20 others, mostly civilians and members of the same family, were wounded in the blast. The spokesman described the explosion as "massive, very, very huge". He said the truck bomb was detonated by a suicide attacker as the vehicle of the police chief passed through a neighbourhood in Kandahar city.

#3: Up to 16 Taliban insurgents have been killed during military operations across Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, authorities said Tuesday. "Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan army and the NATO-led coalition forces launched three joint cleanup operations in Kunar, Logar and Helmand provinces, killing eight armed Taliban insurgents over the past 24 hours," the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The statement didn't say if there were any casualties on the side of security forces. Four militants were detained and two others were injured during the above raids, according to the statement.

#4: In a separate development, eight Taliban militants were killed during a special search operation conducted by the ANP in Yamgan district of Badakhshan province early Tuesday morning, a provincial government spokesman said. Seven injured militants were detained by the police in the northwest province, spokesman Abdul Maruf Rasikh told Xinhua, adding one policeman was killed and another was injured during the raid.

#5: An operation against Taliban militants in the volatile area of the country's northwest on Monday left 36 dead, which included three security personnel and two members of the peace committee, military sources said. Security forces had launched the operation to clear Batwar area of Bajaur of Taliban militants who had crossed over from the neighbouring Kunar province of Afghanistan. At least 31 Taliban militants, three security personnel and two peace committee members were reported killed in the clashes, the sources confided to our sources on Monday. "Most of the area has been cleared of militants," they said. However, the operation was still continuing to evict remaining few militants from the area, the military sources went on to say.

#6: According to local authorities in eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan, a suicide bomber attacked a funeral ceremony in eastern Ghazni city on Tuesday. The incident took place after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives during a burial ceremony of the father of a provincial intelligence official. Provincial security chief Gen. Mohammad Hussain confirming the report only the suicide bomber was killed and there were no reports of fatalities to civilians and participants of the funeral. Gen. Hussain further added the explosion was followed by gun battle between the assailant militants and Afghan security forces. The militants fled the area later on.

War News for Monday, August 27, 2012

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Pfc. Patricia L. Horne died from unreported causes at Bagram, Kapisa province, Afghanistan, on Friday, August 24th.


NATO says Afghan ally fires on coalition, kills 2

Key Afghan insurgent reported killed in airstrike; Taliban deny it   

Over 200 Nato bases in Afghanistan closed

Thousands flee NWA fearing military offensive


Reported security incidents
#1: The 10 Afghan army soldiers were killed in a massive attack by the Taliban on their checkpoint in southern Helmand on Monday morning. As many as 200 insurgents were involved in the assault, 11 of whom were killed. Four soldiers were wounded and six others were missing following the attack in Washir district, a senior police official told AFP news agency.

#2: According to government officials, several militants ambushed security forces check post in Torghar, remote area of Kuram Agency, on this army retaliated with full force and killed five militants. Military officials said two security personnel were sustained injuries in hours long clash.
 
#3: Meanwhile, in Khyber Agency, two local members of Amman Lashkar were killed in remote control bomb blast. Suspected Taliban militants planted the bomb device targeting Amman Lashkar militia which fighting against the terrorists in their areas. Two more members of the militia were wounded who were later shifted to Peshawar military hospital in critical condition.

#4: Four persons, including three religious students were killed by unknown gunmen in Charsadda district in Ghor province Sunday. Unknown armed men shot dead four civilians in Shewal village in Charsadda district, an official of the Ghor police headquarters, Zainul Abideen told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). He said three of the dead were students of a religious seminary located in provincial metropolis Chaghcharan. They were on their way from Chaghcharan to Charsadda district headquarters when the unknown armed men attacked them, Zainul Abideen added.

#5: At 10 am local time -7,30 in Italy- a 107mm missile launched by rebels dropped without exploding at Fob Tobruk. The Forward Operative Base of Bala Boluk is competence of Task Force South and is run by Reggimento Cavalleggeri Guide, in the area of Regional Command West, led by Italians. This was released by the spokesperson of the Italian contingent in Afghanistan, Colonel Francesco Tirino. The impact of the device on the ground launched stones which hit three Italian militaries. They were taken to the infirmery (Role 1) of the base. One of them was taken, on precautionary measures, for further examinations to Role 2 in Farah; the others suffered only slight

#6: An explosion rocked southern Uruzgan province early Monday morning after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives near the first district security commandment in Tarikowt city. Provincial governor Amir Akhondzai confirming the report said only the suicide bomber was killed following the blast and there were reports of civilians or Afghan security forces casualties. Mr. Akhondzai further added the main target of the suicide bomber was Afghan police forces who were crossing the area at the time of the incident. In the meantime a local security official said the explosion took place while the suicide bomber was receiving the suicide vest from another individual.

News of the Day for Sunday, August 26, 2012

ISAF says it has killed several insurgents in an airstrike in Kunar province on Saturday.

It is not entirely clear, but in what appears to be a separate attack, NATO says, and the Taliban confirm, that an airstrike on Friday in Kunar killed Mullah Dadullah, a commander of the Pakistani Taliban, along with 12 others.

A Taliban commander said to be responsible for a rocket attack on a NATO base in Kandahar is arrested near Spinboldak.

Mawlawi Ghulaam Rasoul, head of Hajj and Pilgrimage for eastern Logar province, is killed in a drive-by shooting in the Wagh Jan market bazaar of the Mohammad Agha district. (This is a bit mysterious as the victim is a religious official. Stories about this have a puzzled tone. No-one has claimed responsibility. - C)

Afghan TV actress Sahar Parniyan has fled Kabul to an undisclosed location following death threats. One of her co-stars, known as Benafsha, was recently murdered. The perpetrators are unknown, but one of her shows, “Wezarat Khana” or the Ministry, depicts corruption and incompetence in government.

Afghan ministries announce the typical numbers for government and Taliban casualties: 3 ANA soldiers killed and 6 injured; 33 Taliban killed in the past 24 hours. (It seems that 27 to 33 Taliban are killed every day, along with 2 or 3 ANA. It would be easier just to xerox these announcements, I think.) 

PakTribune reports several incidents in Afghanistan  which seem not to have been reported elsewhere. These include a claim by the Taliban to have killed 1 police officer and wounded 7 in an attack in Sar-e-Pul province; a government spokesmen says that in fact, 1 civilian was killed and 4 of the attackers injured. Also:

• A rocket hit a house in Gereskh district, killing a girl and wounding six others occupants
• A civilian was killed in a landmine explosion in Marjah district of Helmand province
• A motorcar hit a landmine in Sistani area of Marjah district this morning, leaving a civilian dead, said a press release issued by Helmand governor’s press office.
• In another development, it said, a rocket fired by anti-government gunmen struck a house in Haidarabad area of Gereshk district last night, killing a girl and wounding six other members of a family, it said.
• Elsewhere, security forces arrested seven gunmen in Nahr-e-Siraj, Marjah.

Afghan troops don't like the equipment they are given by the U.S., consider U.S. troops to be disrespectful. They prefer the AK-47 to the M-16, which they cannot believe is a modern rifle. It jams all the time. They are otherwise given inferior equipment to what U.S. troops have, for example no night vision goggles and boots that fall apart. More:

[Says Aga,] When foreign forces patrol with Afghan forces, "they don't respect us. When we see that they don't have respect we get angry. Even myself, I have seen how they behave in Afghanistan. They have sometimes been cruel. I saw in operations they have entered mosques, I have seen this myself."
Another complaint: The foreigners don't let civilians drive in front of their convoys even if they are rushing a sick person to treatment, referring to the heavy security measures U.S. troops impose around their vehicles. . . .


In May last year, a U.S. Army team led by a behavioral scientist released a 70-page survey that revealed both Afghan and American soldiers hold disturbingly negative perceptions of the other.
According to the survey, many Afghan security personnel found U.S. troops "extremely arrogant, bullying and unwilling to listen to their advice" and sometimes lacking concern about Afghans' safety in combat. They accused the Americans of ignoring female privacy and using denigrating names for Afghans. U.S. troops, in turn, often accused Afghan troops and police of "pervasive illicit drug use, massive thievery, personal instability, dishonesty, no integrity," the survey said.

War News for Saturday, August 25, 2012

Reported security incidents
#1: Pakistani intelligence and Afghan officials said Mullah Dadullah, the self-proclaimed leader of the Pakistani Taliban in Pakistan’s Bajur tribal area was killed, although they offered conflicting reports on the exact location of the strike. NATO could not confirm that a senior militant had been killed. Coalition spokesman Maj. Adam Wojack said the attack took place late Friday afternoon in Kunar province near the Pakistan border, killing 12 militants. Kunar provincial official Aslam Gul Mujahid said the airstrike killed 20 people, including Dadullah. Pakistani intelligence officials said Dadullah and 19 others were killed, but they said the airstrike took place in Pakistan’s Bajur region, just across the border from Kunar.

#2: Army soldiers killed five militants attempting to enter the Lower Dir district and Bajaur tribal region from across the Afghan border, military officials said on Friday. The intruding militants also fired rockets on Pakistani security check-posts along the border with Afghanistan, the officials told our sources on condition of anonymity. "Around 100 militants attempted to cross into Lower Dir and Bajaur areas on the night between Thursday and Friday, harassing local population," the officials said. Five militants, they claimed, were killed when the army returned fire.

#3: at least eight terrorists were killed and two of their hideouts destroyed after security forces shelling in different areas of Lower Orakzai Agency on Friday. According to details, security forces conducted search operation and targeted the hideouts of suspected miscreants in Gawak area of Lower Orakzai Agency with heavy artillery fire. Eight terrorists were killed in the action while two hideouts were destroyed in the shelling.

#4: Four Australian soldiers have been wounded, one seriously, in Afghanistan, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) says. The soldiers were wounded when an improvised explosive device blew up in Oruzgan province during operations with the Afghan National Security Force, the ADF said in a statement.

#5: At least 8 insurgents were killed, three detained and a weapons cache discovered in joint Afghan and coalition forces operation in some provinces of the country, a Bagram based coalition forces press office said Saturday.

Afghan police backed by the national army and the NATO-led troops have killed 17 Taliban militants and arrested 26 others over the past 24 hours across the country, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Saturday. "The national police backed by the national army and the NATO- led coalition forces have killed 17 armed Taliban militants and arrested 26 others during series of operations conducted in Kabul, Kunar, Logar, Ghazni and Paktika provinces over the past 24 hours," the statement contended. Two more insurgents were wounded during the operations, it furhter said. No casualties have been reported on the security forces, it stressed.

War News for Friday, August 24, 2012

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Sgt. Louis R. Torres died at the Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas on Wednesday, August 22nd. He was wounded from an IED blast attack in in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Monday, August 6th.


Reported security incidents
#1: U.S. missiles slammed into three compounds close to the Afghan border Friday, killing 18 suspected militants, Pakistani officials said, just a day after the government summoned an American diplomat to protest drone strikes in the country's northwest tribal region. The suspected militant hideouts were hit minutes apart. They were located several kilometers (miles) from each other in the North Waziristan tribal area, the main militant sanctuary in Pakistan, said intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters. The suspected militant hideouts that were attacked Friday in the Shawal area of North Waziristan were each hit by two missiles, said the intelligence officials. Militants often use the hideouts when they are crossing into Afghanistan, the officials said. In addition to the 18 suspected militants who were killed, 14 others were wounded, they said.

#2: Police say insurgents have kidnapped three Afghan soldiers and another man from a bus in eastern Afghanistan and killed all four. Police official Mohammad Zaman says armed militants stopped the bus as it was traveling in Paktia province’s Ahmad Khil district and forced the four men off the vehicle. Provincial deputy police chief Zaman says their bullet-ridden bodies were found lying on a road late Thursday. He said Friday that three of the men were off-duty soldiers who were traveling to see their families. The fourth victim’s identity was unclear.

#3: At least five militants were killed by security forces when Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked a check-post on Pak-Afghan border in Lower Dir on Friday, DawnNews reported. According to the officials, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), attacked Pakistani security forces’ check-post from Afghanistan’s area Ankalsar, Maskini Dara, and Samar Bagh. In another incident, in Upper Orakzai Agency, security forces bombed the militant hideout in the area of Mumzai and killed eight militants.

#4: A roadside bomb killed six civilians, mostly women and children, travelling in a motorised rickshaw in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, police said. "Tragically two women, three children and one man were killed in the explosion" in Spin Boldak district near the border with Pakistan, Kandahar provincial police chief Abdul Razeq told AFP.

#5: Two guards of a logistic convoy of the foreign forces were killed and its 12 vehicles were set ablaze in a Taliban attack in Bakwa district in Farah province Thursday.The Taliban attacked a logistic convoy of the foreign forces in Dasht-i-Bakwa area in Bakwa district, the western zone 606 Ansar zone police spokesman Abdul Rauf Ahmadi told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). The logistic convoy of the foreign forces was on way from Herat to Helmand province, he said, adding a private security firm, Arya, was escorting the convoy.He said he did not have information about casualties to Taliban.

#6: Meanwhile, three vehicles of the ISAF were damaged in separate explosions in Parwan, Ghazni and Helmand provinces Thursday.

#7: According to local authorities in eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan, former provincial governor for Ghazni province Faizanullah Faizan was injured following an attack early Friday morning. Provincial National Directorate of Security NDS chief Syed Amirshah Sadat said, a suicide bomber attacked.

#8: Local authorities in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan said, at least 30 missiles were fired in Dangam district of eastern Kunar province on Wednesday night. Provincial governor Syed Fazlullah Wahidi confirming the report said the shelling did not incur any casualties to local residents however agricultural fields were damaged.

 

 

DoD: Sgt. Louis R. Torres

 

War News for Thursday, August 23, 2012

Pakistan black marketers cheer NATO supply reopening

Turkish soldiers kill 16 PKK militants after convoy attack

32 killed as flood wreaks havoc in Pakistan


Reported security incidents
#1: Officials in Pakistan say militants have shot dead three police officers in Pakistan's troubled northwest. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the killings, but police said Taliban militants are suspected. Police said the militants fired on a patrol and fled. The attack occurred in the Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, along the Afghan border.

#2: An Afghan army vehicle has hit a roadside bomb in northern Afghanistan, killing three Afghan soldiers and wounding three others. Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, a spokesman for the Afghan National Police in northern Afghanistan, says the explosion occurred around 3 a.m. Thursday as the soldiers were patrolling in Baghlan province.

#3: According to local security officials in eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan, heavy casualties were incurred to Taliban militants following clashes with the local residents in this province. Provincial National Directorate of Security NDS chief Syed Amir Shah Sadat confirming the report said clashes between Taliban militants and local residents started after Taliban attacked villagers of Koh-Nesf in Andar district. Mr. Sadat further added local residents clashed with the Taliban militants which continued for several hours. He said dead bodies of two Taliban militants among several killed or injured were left in the area.

#4: Afghan police have killed over a dozen Taliban militants and arrested 11 others during series of operations over the past 24 hours, the Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Thursday. "Units of police in conjunction with the national army and the NATO-led coalition force during series of cleanup operations in Kabul, Kunduz, Kapisa, Kandahar, Logar, Zabul and Ghazni provinces have killed 15 Taliban militants and arrested 11 others over the past 24 hours," said the statement. However, it did not say if there were any casualties on the security forces.

#5: According to local authorities in northern Parwan province of Afghanistan, a convoy of the NATO-led International Coalition Security Forces struck with a roadside improvised explosive device in this province. The officials further added the exact details regarding the casualties as a result of the today’s incident are not known yet. The incident took place early Thursday morning in Khanqa area in Bagram district. Bagram district chief Abdul Shakoor Qudoosi said the incident took place while NATO troops were patrolling in the area. He said a vehicle of the NATO troops was damaged following the blast.

War News for Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Reported security incidents
#1: An official says three grenades were thrown into a mosque compound during morning prayers in eastern Afghanistan, wounding at least nine worshippers. Wednesday's attack in Khost province comes a day after a series of bombs across Afghanistan killed 46 people. It was the deadliest day for civilians this year. The Khost police chief says one of the grenades exploded inside the mosque itself in Baghi Sara area. Two others landed in the courtyard outside and one of those failed to detonate. The police chief, Sardar Mohammad Zazai, blamed Taliban insurgents.

#2: Taliban militants group claimed that a number of a senior Taliban officials imprisoned in Kabul’s Pul-e-Charkhi jail, escaped from the prison. A spokesman for the Taliban militants group Zabiullah Mujahid following a statement claimed at least 15 senior Taliban leaders managed to break the jail and have escaped to a safe place.


DoD: Sgt. 1st Class Coater B. Debose

DoD: Sgt. David V. Williams

War News for Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Afghans to spy on own troops to stop ‘insider’ attacks


Reported security incidents
#1: The plane belonging to the chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff was apparently attacked by insurgents in Afghanistan Tuesday. Militants fired rockets at the Bagram Airfield outside Kabul, and shrapnel hit U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey’s C-17 military plane, according to NATO officials. Dempsey was not in the plane at the time of the attack. Several members of the maintenance crew sustained minor injuries. A helicopter was also damaged. “The Chairman was in his room at the time of the incident and was unharmed,” said Maj. Lori Hodge, a spokeswoman for NATO forces. “Due to some exterior damage to Gen. Dempsey’s aircraft, he left Afghanistan on a different military plane.” Officials say indirect hits from such rocket attacks on the airfield are not uncommon and they do not suspect that the plane was targeted because it belonged to Dempsey.

#2: A civilian was killed and 12 others including three children injured when a car bomb targeted a paramilitary convoy Tuesday in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, officials said. The explosives-packed car went off after vehicles of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) passed, FC spokesman Murtaza Baig told AFP. “The militants targeted two vehicles of FC but the remote-control device exploded after our convoy had passed the parked car,” he said

#3: According to local authorities in eastern Paktiya province of Afghanistan, the vehicles convoy of Amanullah Khan Zadran, advisor to president Hamid Karzai struck with a roadside bomb near the central city of Paktiya province on Monday. Provincial governor spokesman for Paktiya, Rohullah Samoon confirming the report said, “Mriza Ali Zadran, brother of Amanullah Khan Zadran, his uncle and his nephew were killed following the blast.” Mr. Samoon further added no one else was injured or killed following the incident. The incident took place early Monday morning around 8:30 am local time at Miland village near the central city of Gardez.


DoD: Staff Sgt. Gregory T. Copes

DoD: Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer 1st Class Darrel L. Enos

DoD: Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hornsby

DoD: Chief Warrant Officer Suresh N. A. Krause

DoD: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Petty Officer Technician 1st Class Sean P. Carson

DoD: Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks

DoD: Sgt. Richard A. Essex

DoD:  Sgt. Luis A. Oliver Galbreath

DoD: Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class David J. Warsen

War News for Monday, August 20, 2012

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Spc. James A. Justice died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany on Friday, August 17th. He was wounded in a small arms fire attack in Wardak province, Afghanistan on Tuesday, August 14th.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from a non-combat related injury in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, August 18th.

The NZDF is reporting the deaths of three ISAF soldiers from a roadside bombing in the North West of Do Abe, on the road to FOB Romero, Bamyan province, Afghanistan on Sunday, August 19th. Here’s the ISAF release.

 

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from small arms fire by an Afghan police officer in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, August 19th.

 

New Zealand signals earlier exit from Afghanistan

Sisters of Bingley former soldier demand answers over Afghan disaster


Reported security incidents
#1: American drones fired a flurry of missiles in a Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan Sun-day, killing a total of 10 suspected militants, Pakistani officials said. In the first strike, missiles fired from unmanned American spy planes hit two vehicles near the Afghan border, killing at least seven militants, Pakistani officials said.  About 10 hours later on Sun-day, two missiles destroyed a home also in the Mana area, killing three militants, the officials said.

#2: The former Sindh Assembly lawmaker, Raheem Baksh Jamali, who was shot and injured in a mosque in Shaheed Benazirabad (formerly Nawabshah) on Sunday, succumbed to his wounds on Monday in a Karachi hospital, Geo News reported. Reportedly, unknown gunmen attacked a mosque-bound Jamlai, who was observing Itikaf – an Islamic practice consisting of a period of retreat in a mosque during the month of Ramadan, especially the last ten days. According to reports, the attackers, four in number, who knew exactly where to find him, got him in the main mosque in Cooperative Housing Society in Shaheed Benazirabad at 5:30 AM in the morning.


DoD: Pfc. Michael R. Demarsico II

DoD: Spc. James A. Justice

MoD: Guardsman Jamie Shadrake

NZDF: CPL Luke Douglas Tamatea

NZDF: LCPL Jacinda Francis Elyse Baker

NZDF: PTE Richard Lee Harris

News of the Day for Sunday, August 19, 2012

Three NATO service members killed by a bomb in eastern Afghanistan. As usual, no further details are given immediately. Most foreign fighters in that region are American.

Bomb hidden in a cemetery in Lashkar Gah, Helmand, kills a police officer and his brother as they visit the grave of a relative following morning prayers on Eid al-Fitr. Seven family members are wounded. The men were brothers of an MP, who was not present.

In a somwhat convoluted story, a Sikh man who had been jailed in Kabul flees to England. He had first been deported from England to Afghanistan after his claim for political asylum was rejected. He was then arrested when he arrived in Kabul and imprisoned for 18 months. He claims Muslim prisoners regularly beat him and that he was also mistreated by his jailers. He is re-applying for asylum in Britain.

A feud in Kunduz leads to 3 deaths, 7 injuries. Rather quaintly, Bakhtar News Agency describes them as "irresponsible groups."

NATO says it has arrested three Taliban commanders in widely separate places.

SecDef Leon Panetta calls Hamid Karzai, tells him to more vigorously vet his security forces as they have lately shown a proclivity for killing NATO troops. (Riiiight, that'll work. Just tell Karzai to be more vigilant.)

Meanwhile, General Allen issues new policies. The NYT reports (and note the futility of "vetting"):

In one of a series of recent steps, the military decreed that American and NATO service members should always carry a loaded magazine in their weapons, to save precious moments if attacked by Afghan forces. Another initiative, now a priority, is a program named “Guardian Angel” that calls for one or two soldiers to monitor the Afghans during every mission or meeting, officials say. The “angels,” whose identities are not disclosed to the Afghans, must be prepared to fire on anyone who tries to kill a coalition service member.

The military has also analyzed the attacks. But the results have been worrisome. Only a handful of the 31 attacks this year have clearly been a result of Taliban activity like infiltration. That suggests a level of malaise or anger within the Afghan forces that could complicate NATO’s training program, which relies on trust and cooperation.

General Allen also has not nice things to say about Mullah Omar. While we're on the subject of Mullah Omar, he is living comfortably in Pakistan enjoying the protection and hospitality of the Pakistani security forces. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just sayin'.

War News for Saturday, August 18, 2012

The DoD is reporting what appears to be a new death previously unreported by the military. Staff Sgt. Eric S. Holman died from an IED blast in Ghazni province, Afghanistan on Wednesday, August 15th.

 

The British MoD is reporting the death of a British ISAF soldier from an insurgent attack in the Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan on Friday, August 17th. Here's the ISAF release.

Reported security incidents
#1: A bomb exploded on Saturday in a bazaar in western Afghanistan crowded with people shopping to celebrate the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, killing four civilians, an official said. A dozen other people were wounded by the bomb which was placed under a bridge in Shindand district of Herat province, provincial spokesman Mohiuddin Noori told the media. It came after a bicycle bomb on Wednesday wounded at least 14 people at a busy market in Herat city, the capital of the province. “This morning a bomb placed under a bridge in a bazaar exploded and killed four civilians and wounded 12 including three police,” the spokesman told the media, adding an investigation was under way.

#2: A US drone attack Saturday killed at least six militants in the North Waziristan tribal region as local people celebrated Eidul Fitr, security officials said. The drone fired two missiles on a compound in Shuwedar village in Shawal district of the troubled North Waziristan region, considered a stronghold of Taliban and Al Qaeda linked militants. “US drones fired two missiles into a militant compound. Six bodies have been recovered from the compound so far,” a security official told AFP.

#3: An Afghan Army officer opened fire on US troops in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar on Friday and wounded two of them. The soldiers returned the fire and killed the officer. Earlier on Friday, an Afghan police officer killed two American servicemen in Farah Province, in the west of the country.

#4: A suicide bomber blew up his explosive-laden car at a check post in Quetta overnight killing five people including three soldiers, an official said Saturday. Troops from the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) stopped a Toyota car for a security check in Quetta, when it entered the city late Friday, FC spokesman Murtaza Baig said. “They were questioning the driver when he detonated himself, killing three FC soldiers and two officials of the military intelligence,” Baig told AFP.

#5: At least three Afghan National Army soldiers were killed when a national army vehicle struck a road side mine in the Baghlan Markazi District of Baghlan province, the 303 Pamir Zone spokesman Laal Mohammad Ahmadzai said. In the incident, three other Afghan soldiers injured, Ahmadzai said.


DoD: Staff Sgt. Eric S. Holman

War News for Friday, August 17, 2012

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED blast in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, August 16th.

 

NATO is reporting the deaths four ISAF and three USFOR-A soldiers in a helicopter crash in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, August 16th. Four Afghani's also died.

 

NATO is reporting the deaths of two USFOR-A soldiers from small arms fire when an Afghan police officer attacked the soldiers in Farah province, Afghanistan on Friday, August 17th.

Family: Mich. Navy Seal Killed In Afghanistan Helicopter Crash

Schofield Black Hawk crashes in Afghanistan

Cherryville soldier, 21, dies of combat wounds

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/08/17/3459646/cherryville-soldier-18-dies-of.html#storylink=cpy

Reported security incidents
#1:  At least 13 people were injured when a blast ripped through a market area in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of Kurram Agency on Friday afternoon, reported local Urdu TV channel Ary.

#2: International Security Assistance Force following a statement on Thursday announced, a senior Islamic Movemement Uzbekistan leader was killed following an airstrike in this province. The source further added, in Ishkamish district, Takhar province on Wednesday, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to find Mullah Anwar, a senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader.

#3: According to local authorities in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan, at least 7 Afghan national army soldiers were killed following a roadside bomb explosion in this province. Gen. Janullah Safi commander 3 regiment in 209 Shaheen Afghan national army commandment confirming the report said the incident took place early Thursday around 2 am local time after a vehicle of the Afghan army soldiers struck with a mine, killing 7 Afghan army service members.


DoD: Pfc. Andrew J. Keller

War News for Thursday, August 16, 2012

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, August 15th.

Reported security incidents
#1: According to local authorities in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan, at least 7 Afghan national army soldiers were killed following a roadside bomb explosion in this province. Gen. Janullah Safi commander 3 regiment in 209 Shaheen Afghan national army commandment confirming the report said the incident took place early Thursday around 2 am local time after a vehicle of the Afghan army soldiers struck with a mine, killing 7 Afghan army service members. In the meantime an Afghan national army official speaking on the condition of anonymity said at least two Afghan army service members were also injured following the blast.

#2: Heavily armed militants stormed a Pakistani air force base on Thursday, sparking clashes that left 10 people dead and raised concerns about the safety of the country's nuclear arsenal. One security official was killed and a plane damaged in the pre-dawn assault at PAF Base Minhas, where suspected Islamists again showed their ability to penetrate a sensitive military site five years into a Taliban insurgency. The Pakistan Air Force said nine attackers dressed in military uniforms and armed with rocket propelled-grenades and suicide vests targeted the base and adjacent Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at 2:00 am (2100 GMT Wednesday).

#3: One-person lost his life while 5 were injured in a blast near railway station on point road in Quetta. According to media reports, a bomb exploded on Point hotel Meer road near railway station Quetta. 1 person was killed while 5 injured in the attack.

#4: The Taliban claimed Wednesday to have caused damage and casualties to the foreign forces by firing mortars at the Bagram Airport. ISAF, however, said the attack did not cause any significant damage to the facility. The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) their fighters fired two mortars at the Bagram Airbase, the largest base of foreign forces in Afghanistan, last night.

#5: A Pakistani official says gunmen forced 20 Shiites off buses in northern Pakistan and killed them. The police official said the incident happened Thursday in the Naran Valley.

#6: At least 27 Taliban insurgents have been killed and 24 others detained in 10 cleanup operations carried out by the Afghan forces and the NATO-led coalition troops in different provinces within the past 24 hours, the country's Interior Ministry said Thursday morning. "The joint operations were launched by Afghan police, army and the NATO-led coalition forces in Kabul, Laghman, Takhar, Kunduz, Zabul, Logar, Ghazni, Herat, Farah and Helmand provinces over the last 24 hours and a total of eight other insurgents were wounded in the mentioned raids," the ministry said in a statement.

#7: At least two policemen were killed and six others were injured when some unknown gunmen opened fire at a police mobile in Pakistan's southwest province of Balochistan on Wednesday night, local media reported. Dunya TV reported that the attack was launched at about 9:15 p. m. local time when at least four gunmen riding motorbikes opened fire at a police mobile carrying salaries for the local police employees, in Awran area of Balochistan, a small town located near provincial capital of Quetta. The police van with eight policemen on board was on its way to Awran from Quetta when it came under attack on the main highway.

#8: According to local security officials in Maidan Wardak province of Afghanistan, a senior government official was killed following a roadside bomb explosion in this province. A local security official speaking on the condition of anonymity said director of provincial security research director Gen. Tahir was killed following a roadside bomb blast in Pul-e-Surkh area. The source further added a remote controlled bomb went off while Gen. Tahir was defusing an improvised explosive device that was planted by militants.

War News for Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Reported security incidents
#1: Two grenades exploded inside a mosque compound during morning prayers in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, wounding at least nine worshippers, an Afghan official said. Three grenades were thrown into the mosque compound in Baghi Sara area, Khost police chief Sardar Mohammad Zazai said. One exploded inside the mosque itself, and one in the courtyard outside. The third failed to detonate. He said many of those praying were Afghans who work at the nearby US base, Forward Operating Base Salerno.

Khost (BNA) In bomb attack of armed Taliban on a base of NATO forces in Khost province, 11 Afghan employees were wounded this morning. This event occurred when Afghan employees waiting in front of the gate of NATO base in Sahrabagh area, of Khost city. It is said that two armed Taliban threw grenades to Afghan employees. Eyewitness said that Taliban after throwing grenades bombs escaped from the area.

#2: Suicide bombers launched multiple attacks in a remote corner of southwestern Afghanistan near the Iranian border Tuesday, killing dozens of people including shoppers buying sweets for a Muslim holiday and leaving charred and smoldering bits of cookies and dried fruit among the bodies on the ground. A separate market bombing, this one in northern Afghanistan, brought the overall death toll to 46, most of whom were civilians. It was the deadliest day for Afghan civilians this year. The attacks in provinces on opposite ends of the country -- Nimroz in the southwest and Kunduz in the north.

#3: Security forces took control of the strategic post of Dalanai in Orakzai Agency on Tuesday after a fierce clash in which 25 militants and two troops were killed. Sources said 22 security men, including a captain, were injured in the morning in the area, about 78km north of Ghaljo, the headquarters of upper Orakzai tehsil and a strong base of militants. According to security sources, 25 militants, including their two commanders, Abu Salman and Sher Shah, were killed in the clash and 14 others injured. Eight injured militants were arrested. The sources claimed that troops had taken control of Dalanai and hoisted the national flag there. They also claimed to have secured about 92 per cent area of the tribal agency.

#4: A district governor was killed along with his three guards in a Taliban attack in Baharak district in Badakhshan province Tuesday. The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) their fighters attacked Afghan security forces in Bandra area, Baharak district, Badakhshan province. He claimed five persons were killed and two more injured in the attack. He said the dead included the governor of Shaghnan district, Saifullah Sadiqi and four police personnel. A vehicle of the Afghan forces was also destroyed in the attack, he added. Meanwhile, the Badakhshan Governor's spokesman Abdul Maroof Rasikhi confirmed the incident. He, however, did not give any details. A high-rankingsecurity official in Badakhshan, wishing not to be named, told the AIP that the governor of Shaghnan district, Saifullah Sadiqi, was killed along with his three companions in the attack.

#5: Meanwhile, at least three police were injured in two back-to-back explosions in the limits of Lashkargah, capital of southern Helmand province, last night, police said Tuesday.

#6: According to political administration officer Amin Khan, security personnel fell prey to a planted landmine while on a regular patrol in Saragarhi area of central Kurram agency. One of the personnel was killed while three others were wounded.

#7: Meanwhile, a remote-controlled bomb exploded near a passenger vehicle in lower Kurram Agency’s Bugzai area. The blast injured three people, who were shifted to Tehsil Alizai Hospital.

#8: Eight mine planters including two Pakistani nationals were killed by their own explosives in the Mahtarlam city capital of Laghman province, last night at 08:30 pm, the ministry of interior said Wednesday. The incident took place when the rebels were planting a roadside mine on the in the capital city of the eastern province, the statement added.

#9: About 26 Taliban insurgents were killed and 34 others detained in the past 24 hours, the Afghan Interior Ministry said Wednesday morning. "Afghan police, army and the NATO-led coalition forces launched seven joint cleanup operations in Kabul, Takhar, Kandahar, Logar, Ghazni, Helmand and Nimroz provinces, killing 18 armed Taliban insurgents over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement.

#10: According to local authorities in northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan, a suspected suicide bomber was shot dead in Dasht-e-Archi district in this province on Wednesday before he detonate his explosives. District chief for Dasht-e-Archi Sheikh Sadruddin said the incident took place around 6:30 am local time and the suicide bomber was shot dead by US troops while he was looking to enter a military bus.

War News for Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Panetta: Pakistan military plans to open new front


Reported security incidents
#1: There is heavy fighting between Afghan and Pakistani forces in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar, which borders Pakistan, Afghan officials say. Fighting started at around 0400 (0030 GMT) following an attack on a border police commander's convoy, according to border police sources. According to Afghan officials in Kunar, one border policeman was killed and five were injured. The Afghan authorities have since sent hundreds of troops to the area. The attack was from the Pakistani side of the border in the area of Binshay, Dangam District, Afghan police say. Afghan officials in Kunar province have told the BBC that both sides have been using heavy and small weapons and a Dangam District tribal elder said the fighting was ongoing. The border district of Dangam lies 40km (25 miles) east of the provincial capital.

#2: Two Pakistani nationals were killed in a bomb attack by NATO helicopters near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Naushki district on Sunday night. According to Levies Force sources, two people identified as Abdul Rashid and Ghulam Farooq, both residents of Naushki, were on their way home when NATO helicopters fired shells on their vehicle, killing them on the spot. The incident occurred near the Chaghai district. However, a Levies official said, "The incident occurred in Safaar, inside the Afghan territory."

#3: At least 10 people were injured in a bomb blast which took place in the provincial capital on late Monday night. Police said that people were gathered and celebrating Independence Day outside a restaurant in Shahbaz Town when a bomb explosion occurred, injuring 10 persons seriously. Preliminary investigation of bomb disposal squad has suggested that it was hand grenade attack, a senior police officer Asad Nasar said. Some other police sources said that it might be improvised explosive devise explosion.


DoD: Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian

DoD: Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke

DoD: Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote

DoD: Staff Sgt. Scott E. Dickinson

DoD: Cpl. Richard A. Rivera Jr.

DoD: Lance Cpl. Gregory T. Buckley

War News for Monday, August 13, 2012

The DoD is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier. Master Sgt. Gregory R. Trent died Wednesday, August 8th at the Bethesda Medical hospital. He was wounded from small arms fire in Baktabad, Shindand province, Afghanistan on Tuesday, July 31st.

US Navy ship collides with oil tanker in Gulf

Wounded soldier speaks of "fast, complex" attack

Cross-border shelling: 45 missiles fired in Kunar province


Reported security incidents
#1: NATO: Afghan policeman fires on coalition forces in 5th similar attack in a week; no deaths.

#2: An Afghan official says Taliban insurgents have killed a district mayor and a member of the provincial peace council in two attacks in northern Afghanistan. A spokesman for Takhar province says a remote-controlled roadside bomb exploded Monday morning. Five people died in the blast, including provincial peace councilor Mohammad Hashim and Abdul Aziz, the mayor of Ishkamesh district. Both were on their way to the provincial capital of Talagan when the bomb detonated as their vehicle passed. Three other people were killed in the explosion. Spokesman Faiz Mohammad Tawhedi says insurgent gunmen also attacked the convoy of the same district's police chief and chief administrator, sparking a battle on the road. He says two Taliban gunmen were killed in the fighting and another was captured. Both officials escaped harm.

#3: Ten suspected militants were killed and four others wounded when jet fighters bombed their hideouts in Mamozai area of Orakzai Agency on Sunday. Sources said that militants had recently taken control of Mamozai area in upper tehsil of the agency. On Sunday morning, security forces launched the air attack and carried out heavy bombing. The sources said that three hideouts were reduced to rubble by the bombing and 10 militants killed. The security forces later conducted a search operation in Kago Qamar and Doli areas and seized heavy weapons and ammunition. However, local Taliban spokesman Hafiz Saeed said that warplanes had only bombed empty houses and no one was killed.

#4: Two Pakistanis were killed in an attack by Nato helicopters in an Afghan area close to the border with Pakistan on Sunday evening. According to sources, the vehicle of Ghulam Farooq and Abdul Rashid of Noshki was attacked by Nato helicopter gunships in Safaar near the border with Chagai district. “The helicopters fired rockets which hit the vehicle and set it aflame about 5km inside Afghanistan,” the sources said Pakistani border officials were contacting their Afghan counterparts for repatriation of the bodies

#5: According to a statement released by defense ministry of Afghanistan, at least 8 Afghan national army service members were killed or injured following militants attacks during the past 24 hours. The statement further added the casualties include 3 dead and 5 injured service members who were killed or injured following militants attacks and roadside bomb explosion. Afghan defense officials following the statement also added the incidents took place in Logar, Paktiya, Maidan Wardak and Helamnd provinces of Afghanistan.

#6: An heavy explosion rocked eastern Nangarhar city early Monday morning. According to reports the incident took place in Jalalabad city near Eid Gah mosque. The exact number of casualties and the circumtances of the explosion is not clear so far.


DoD: Master Sgt. Gregory R. Trent

MoD: Lieutenant Andrew Chesterman

MoD: Lance Corporal Matthew David Smith