Afghan and coalition forces killed 12 militants March 27, during a raid of a militant location to further degrade bomb-making and facilitation networks in northern Helmand province.

In Nahr Surk District, Helmand province, approximately 125 km west of Kandahar, Afghan and coalition forces targeted a compound housing militants. When the assault force arrived at the targeted location, militants positioned south of the compound immediately began attacking the force using small-arms fire. The forces returned fire and called for supporting fire to diminish the threat of the militants who were concealed in a line of trees and maneuvering in a field, resulting in four enemies killed.

Having eliminated the immediate threats, the assault force proceeded to the target, meeting resistance from militants located inside buildings on the compound.

Aware that women and children may be inside, Afghan forces called out for non-combatants to exit the buildings, but none complied. The assault force attempted to clear one building where two militants had barricaded themselves behind women and children. When the assault force encountered the armed militants, they killed them without harming the non-combatants.

As they continued to clear the compound, the force began receiving small-arms fire from multiple barricaded shooters inside another building. The assault force proceeded to clear the rest of the compound without incident.

Nine women and 20 children were protected despite the militants using a common Taliban tactic of placing innocent civilians in harm’s way. One child received a minor injury during the engagement and received immediate care from a coalition medic with no further treatment required.

DVIDS

Afghan national security forces and coalition forces killed 12 militants in Shaheed Hasas district, Oruzgan province, Oct. 8, 2008.

The forces were conducting a combat security patrol when they were attacked by militants with small-arms, mortar and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

ANSF and coalition forces responded to the attack with small-arms, RPG and supporting fires, killing 12 militants.

Local Afghan villagers told ANSF and coalition forces that militant fire killed 10 Afghan civilians in a nearby village.

Militant fire also injured three women and six children who sought out coalition forces for medical care. All of the injured were medically evacuated to a coalition hospital where they are being treated for their injuries.

No ANSF or coalition forces casualties have been reported.

Shortly after the engagement, ANSF and coalition forces met with local leaders and family members of the deceased, who expressed their gratitude for coalition forces in treating those injured by the insurgents.

“The acts committed today are acts of terrorism against innocent civilians,” Assadullah Hamdam, Oruzgan provincial governor. “I hope these enemies are captured and are brought to justice. I appreciate the effort of ANSF and the coalition force for their actions today.”

DVIDS

Several Militants Killed in Maruf District, Kandahar province

Afghan national security forces and coalition forces killed several militants during a security patrol in Maruf District, Kandahar province, Monday [July 21 2008].

Militants attacked the patrol with small-arms fire and rocket propelled grenades from a fortified position.

ANSF and coalition forces returned small-arms fire and called for close air support. Several militants were killed and the position was destroyed.

No ANSF, coalition forces or civilians were killed or injured during this engagement.

ANSF, Coalition Forces Kill Militants in Shah Wali Kot District, Kandahar province

Afghan national security forces and coalition forces killed militants while on a security patrol in Shah Wali Kot District, Kandahar province, Monday [July 21 2008].

ANSF and coalition forces positively identified militants with weapons massing along a ridgeline and moving into fortified fighting positions.

The ANSF and coalition forces engaged them with small-arms fire and called for close air support, killing the militants.

No ANSF, coalition forces or civilians were injured or killed during the engagement.

Militants Killed in Wardak Province

Several militants were killed Tuesday [July 22 2008] during a coalition forces operation to disrupt militant activities in Wardak province.

Coalition forces searched several compounds in Sayed Abad District targeting a Taliban commander suspected of conducting attacks on coalition forces, including the, June 26, attack in Wardak resulting in the deaths of three coalition service members and an Afghan Interpreter.

The anti-Afghan forces attacked the coalition forces with grenades, machineguns and small-arms fire from a house where they were barricaded. Coalition forces returned fire using small-arms, grenades and an airstrike, ultimately killing the militants.