America's North Shore Journal

ISAF and Afghan forces have recently observed militants using infants as human shields during hostile acts against Afghan and international forces operating throughout Afghanistan.

“The Taliban’s actions that endanger civilians, especially children, show complete disregard for the people of Afghanistan,” said ISAF Joint Command Deputy Chief of Staff for Joint Operations Maj. Gen. Michael Regner.

A combined Afghan and international force interdicted three vehicles in three separate engagements, resulting in more than 10 militants killed while pursuing a Taliban commander in Afghanistan’s Helmand province yesterday [Feb. 15 2010].

The force was sent to a rural area in the Washir district after intelligence reports revealed militants were in several vehicles.

During today’s protest an insurgent sniper shot an Afghan official who was within FOB Delhi in Garmsir District. ISAF service members identified the insurgent sniper, shot and killed him. There were no other injuries or shots fired.

“I think we got the lucky card and will be at ManBearPig the whole deployment,” said Jensen, a 24-year-old from Sonoma, Calif. “When you’re not getting bullets flying over your head, this is a peaceful place. There’s a lot to see here for inspiration you can write about. I really want to leave here having bettered myself.”

Video: the Taliban fire at ISAF and Afghan forces through small holes known as murder holes, which make it hard for the soldiers to locate the enemy.

Captain Strelkauskas then directed the MSOT 2 Joint Tactical Air Controller (JTAC), through Staff Sergeant Mosser, who is also a certified JTAC, to employ CAS assets to drop a series of 500lb and 2000lb bombs within danger close as a last ditch effort to suppress the insurgents so the remaining two casualties and the body of Staff Sergeant Heredia could be retrieved from the kill zone. This tactical decision was the turning point of the fire fight and allowed the team to execute this plan of action. With ordnance at danger close distances and still under heavy fire, Captain Strelkauskas and Staff Sergeant Mosser coordinated teams of personnel to extract the remaining two casualties to vehicles and then move them to safety. While directing the rescue of the last two casualties, Captain Strelkauskas remained in position with Staff Sergeant Heredia’s body, despite a constant hail of rounds impacting all around his position.

Estonia, which is located along the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe, is one of NATO’s newest and smallest members. Estonian soldiers spent the past couple months working to maintain security in Masood and Shamshad. October’s firefight was the first in the Masood District in many weeks.

An Afghan-international security force killed a group of enemy militants and detained two suspected militants today in eastern Paktika province while pursuing a Haqqani commander with ties to the local Haqqani leadership and who was responsible for several attacks in the area.

The compound consists of two, three-story buildings, which Marines and Afghan national army soldiers inhabit.

The two main buildings are made out of mostly marble and concrete, wooden window frames and doors with designs carved into them. Colored tiles cover the outside. The compound is surrounded by gigantic walls, giving it the look of a castle from outside. Marines can’t help but call their home a mansion.