Afghan and coalition forces killed 11 militants, detained suspected militants, and netted drugs and weapons in operations over the past week in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

In Lowgar province’s Baraki District today, Afghan and coalition forces conducted a raid to find and detain a suspected Taliban weapons smuggler. The suspect is believed to be tied to a commander responsible for attacks on Afghan civilians.

During a compound search, the forces asked the building occupants to leave. The occupants of one of the compounds failed to comply. The forces entered the compound and saw several men hiding behind women. The forces moved the women to a safe area and detained six suspected militants. They also found an explosive device, which they safely removed. The forces protected 25 women and 12 children during the operation.

Also today, Afghan and coalition forces conducted an assault on two compounds to disrupt the Haqqani terrorist network in Paktia province’s Zadran District, south of Kabul. The combined force searched the compounds. Two suspected militants were detained with no shots fired. The forces protected four women and eight children during the operation.

In operations yesterday:

– In Kandahar province’s Maywan District, west of Kandahar, Afghan special operations and coalition forces conducted an operation to disrupt a foreign fighter and weapons smuggling network in western Kandahar. Upon arrival, the forces asked noncombatants to leave the buildings. The forces killed five militants who maneuvered on them during the operation. The forces also detained three suspected militants and protected 19 women and 38 children during the operation.

– Afghan and coalition forces conducted a raid to disrupt the Haqqani terrorist network in Khowst province. The forces detained four suspects and seized an AK-47 assault rifle, a pistol and 15,000 Pakistan ruppe, which is about $200. Five women and 10 children were protected during the operation.

In March 14 operations:

– Afghan and coalition forces conducted operations against militants suspected of making bombs in Lowgar province, southwest of Kabul. The forces received information that the militants were staying on a compound in Charkh District. Upon arrival, the forces asked noncombatants to leave the area. Armed militants engaged the forces. Five enemy combatants were killed in the firefight. The forces also seized and destroyed multiple weapons and grenades. Eight women and nine children were protected during the operation.

– In Kandahar province, west of Kandahar, Afghan special operations forces and coalition forces conducted a raid on a compound used as a storage area and staging site for Taliban operations against coalition forces in Zhari and Panjwayi Districts. Led by a civilian’s tip, the combined force arrived at the targeted compound and encountered and killed an armed enemy combatant. The forces also detained 10 suspected militants and destroyed 176 pounds of a potentially explosive material used in the production of homemade bombs. The forces protected 19 women and 29 children during the operation.

– Afghan army commandos, aided by coalition forces, netted drugs and weapons during a search of an enemy compound in Helmand province’s Nawa District. The commandos seized 20 pounds of black tar heroin in a drug lab, as well as an AK-47 with magazines. Following the search, the villagers told the commandos that the Taliban had been demanding money, food and water from them.

– In Oruzgan province’s Tarin Kowt District, Afghan national police, aided by coalition forces, found and destroyed an improvised explosive device cache that contained five large containers of homemade explosives and more than 10 107 mm rockets. Later that day, one of the ANP vehicles struck an improvised explosive device. The police officers inside the vehicle sustained minor injuries and were able to continue their mission. No other injuries were reported.

In March 11 operations:

– Afghan national police arrested two men suspected of attempting to assassinate ANP officers in Paktia province’s Chamkani District. The militants were targeting police officers in response to the arrest of one of their comrades.

– Also in Chamkani District, a man brought a family member to the national police, informing them that a relative of his had been studying in Pakistan and was prepared to be a suicide bomber. The family member told the ANP he wanted to prevent further bloodshed in the country.

DVIDS

38 terrorists killed this week.

Coalition forces killed six armed militants and detained 12 suspected militants during operations Monday [November 24 2008] to disrupt the Hizb-e-Islami Gulbuddin, or HIG, and Haqqani terrorist networks in Kapisa and Paktika provinces.

An operation in Tagab District, Kapisa province, targeted an HIG commander known to traffic large-scale weapons used to conduct attacks in the region against civilians, Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces. Intelligence also indicated the commander planned and coordinated recent attacks in the area that have killed and injured civilians, ANSF and Coalition forces.

During the operation in Tagab, Coalition forces received small-arms fire from multiple armed militants attempting to maneuver on Coalition forces. Coalition forces responded with small-arms fire, killing five militants.

A search of the compound found AK-47s and other military style equipment which were destroyed to prevent future use. Coalition forces detained seven suspected militants. They also provided protection for 11 women and 18 children during the operation.

In Ziruk District, Paktika province, Coalition forces killed one armed militant and detained five suspected militants during an operation targeting a known Haqqani subcommander who is believed to facilitate the movement of weapons and foreign fighters into the region.

As Coalition forces entered the targeted building, they were immediately engaged by an armed militant. Coalition forces responded with small-arms fire, killing him. Another militant was found holding an explosive device detonator in his hand, but he decided to surrender.

CJTF-101

Coalition forces killed ten armed militants, and detained four suspected militants during operations to thwart the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist networks in Paktia and Paktika provinces, Tuesday {November 25 2008].

The operation in Paktia province targeted a senior Taliban commander in the Zormat district – believed to act as a liaison between the al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorist networks, assisting with the movement of foreign fighters into Afghanistan. During the operation Coalition forces were engaged by small-arms fire from multiple militants, some of whom where barricaded inside the compound. Coalition forces returned fire to protect the force and other innocent civilians in the vicinity. Five armed militants were killed during the operation.

In Sabori district, Coalition forces killed five armed militants and detained four suspected militants in an operation that targeted a Haqqani sub-commander. The targeted militant is responsible for planning and conducting attacks against Coalition forces in the region. Intelligence suggests this militant also facilitates the movement of weapons and supplies used by terrorist to conduct attacks against innocent civilians, GIRoA and Coalition forces.

As the force approached the targeted compound they received small-arms fire from two armed militants attempting to maneuver on the force. Coalition forces returned fire, killing both. The force then received small-arms fire from militants inside the compound. Adhering to Coalition procedures, designed to protect innocent civilians inside the building, the force called for all individuals to exit the building and surrender. Eight women and eleven children exited the building unharmed and were moved to a safe location. Continuing to receive fire from inside the building, the force engaged the militants with small-arms fire killing three additional militants. A search of the building revealed multiple weapons.

CJTF-101

Coalition forces killed 15 militants, and detained six suspected militants during an early morning raid in Anizai, Zhari district, Kandahar province, Nov. 26.

Coalition forces were clearing a compound known to be an IED command and control node when they were fired upon. Coalition forces returned fire with small arms weapons killing 15 insurgents and detained six.

“We will continue to support the Afghan people by seeking and disrupting militant networks,” said Col. Jerry O’Hara, U.S. Forces Afghanistan spokesperson.

No Coalition forces or civilian casualties were reported.

CJTF-101

Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces killed seven militants today [November 27 2008] and uncovered three caches containing drugs and improvised explosive device-making materials during a clearing operation in Nahr Surkh District, Helmand province.

Militants fired on ANSF and Coalition forces with machine-gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire. ANSF and Coalition forces responded with small-arms and supporting fires, killing seven.

ANSF and Coalition forces searched the area and found a cache of bombing-making materials that included control wire, metal and homemade explosives; a cache of 12 mortar rounds; and a cache of 175 pounds of opium, which was destroyed.

During the operation, the combined forces protected more than 300 local villagers from enemy fire. No ANSF, Coalition forces or civilian casualties have been reported.

CJTF-101

Afghan army commandos and their coalition partners killed four militants while simultaneously protecting nearly 90 civilians in an early morning operation today in western Afghanistan, military officials reported.

The combined forces were conducting a raid on a compound, targeting a Taliban commander in Farah province’s Dowlatabad village when they received fire from several enemy fighting positions. The combined forces quickly returned fire and also established a security perimeter to protect the civilians, who included 30 children, officials said.

The exchange of fire resulted in the deaths of four enemy fighters who local residents confirmed were Taliban militants.

During the search for more militants, commandos discovered a fully operational explosive device in a local mosque. Commandos removed the bomb and destroyed it. The detonation caused minor damage to the mosque’s exterior wall, for which the commandos provided compensation to village elders. The operation also uncovered numerous small arms weapons and bomb-making materials.

No Afghan, coalition or civilian casualties resulted from the operation, officials said.

In other news from Afghanistan, Afghan and coalition forces killed 10 militants near Highway 1 in the Nahr Surkh district of Helmand province yesterday. The forces were conducting a security patrol when they were attacked by militants with small-arms and machine-gun fire. They returned fire, killing the 10 militants.

During the engagement, an Afghan soldier was shot in the back. He was treated on site and transported to a nearby Coalition medical facility. No other Afghan or coalition forces or civilians were injured during the engagement, officials said.

Also yesterday, Afghan and coalition forces killed four armed militants and detained eight others yesterday during an operation in Kapisa province in which an Afghan woman and child were injured when the insurgents used them as human shields, officials said.

In the Tagab district, coalition forces provided medical care to the Afghan woman and child, whom the forces believe lived with the militants. The two were injured when one of the militants detonated a hand grenade. They are recovering at a military hospital, officials said.

The operation targeted the Hizb-e-Islami Gulbuddin terrorist network, which is known to plan and coordinate attacks against civilians and coalition forces, including an attack in August that killed 10 French soldiers, officials said.

As the force attempted to search the compound, they received a large volume of small-arms fire and hand grenades from militants barricaded in a section of the compound. Coalition forces responded with small-arms fire and killed them.

A search of the compound revealed multiple AK-47 assault rifles, hand grenades and other military equipment, which were destroyed to prevent future use. The force detained three suspected militants as a result of the operation.

In Khowst province, Afghan and coalition forces captured a targeted Haqqani terrorist network operative and five other suspects during a combined operation in the Mandozai district. The wanted man is a suspect in roadside and suicide bombings, officials said. Troops searched the compound without incident.

DVIDS