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.