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