War News for Monday, April 15, 2013

Record opium crop expected in Afghanistan as farmers return to planting illicit poppies

Afghan Interpreters for the U.S. Are Left Stranded and at Risk

Iraq bombings kill at least 25, wound more than 170


Reported security incidents
#1: A roadside bomb hit a tractor in southern Afghanistan on Monday, killing seven civilians and wounding four others, officials said. The tractor and trailer hit the anti-vehicle mine in the Mali Zai area of Zabul province, the ministry of interior said in a statement. “Seven civilians were killed and four other civilians were wounded.

#2: Local leader of an anti-Taliban political party has been killed in a roadside bomb attack by suspected Islamist militants in Pakistan's north-western Swat valley, media reports citing local officials said late on Sunday. According to officials, Mukarram Shah, local leader of the secular Awami National Party (ANP), was killed when his pick-up truck was struck by a roadside bomb near Mingora town. The deceased was alone when the explosion struck.

#3: At least four militants have been killed by a US drone strike on Sunday in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt, security officials said. The attack took place in Datta Khel town, 35 kms (22 miles) west of Miranshah, the main town in the lawless North Waziristan region which borders Afghanistan. The area is a stronghold of Taleban and al-Qaeda-linked militants. Six US drones flew over the area when one of them fired two missiles at a compound in the Manzarkhel area of the town.

#4: Unknown persons shot dead the driver of a Nato-Supply container here on Sunday, official sources said. The sources said that unknown person attacked in Tedi bazaar the container, carrying supplies for the Afghanistan-based US-led Nato forces. “The driver of the vehicle was killed when unknown gunmen sprayed the vehicle with bullets, killing the driver on the spot,” official sources said.

#5: Ten Taliban militants have been killed in separate military operations across Afghanistan over the last 24 hours, the country's Interior Ministry said Sunday afternoon. "Afghan National Police (ANP) supported by the army and the NATO-led coalition forces conducted several cleanup operations in Kunar, Zabul, Uruzgan, Khost, Paktia, Badghis and Helmand provinces over the past 24 hours. As a result 10 armed Taliban were killed and three other armed Taliban were arrested," the ministry said in a statement.