Showing posts with label TALIBAN FIGHTERS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TALIBAN FIGHTERS. Show all posts

Thursday, April 24, 2014

FORMER ARMY SGT. WILL ACCEPT MEDAL OF HONOR IN HONOR OF SIX WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES

FROM:  THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
White to Accept Medal of Honor in Memory of Comrades
By J.D. Leipold
Army News Service

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2014 – Former Army Sgt. Kyle J. White said that when he accepts the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama at the White House on May 13, he will do so in honor of the five soldiers and one Marine "who gave their lives in the defense of freedom and the American way of life."
White spoke at a press conference yesterday at the National Guard Center in Charlotte, N.C., near where he now lives. White was just 20 when he was deployed to Afghanistan. On Nov. 9, 2007, his 14-man unit and squad of Afghan soldiers were brutally ambushed on three sides by Taliban fighters on a path descending from the village of Aranas into a valley.

"On May 13th when I'm awarded the Medal of Honor, I will tell their stories and preserve their memories… they will not be forgotten," the now-27-year-old Seattle native told the press and bloggers. "Their sacrifice and the sacrifices of so many others are what motivate me to wake up each and every day to be the best I can. Everything I do in my life is done to make them proud."
White was asked how strong the memory of the battle is now, after almost seven years, during which time he attained a bachelor's degree and became an investment analyst for a major bank.

"I would say for the first couple of years, memories were more vivid than today. As time goes on certain things you think about less and less, but at any given moment I can close my eyes and hear the sounds and smell the gunpowder in the air; but six and a half years later, I don't think about it as much as I used to," he said.

He did share that there were two things he can always visualize as if it were yesterday -- when he looked up from applying a tourniquet to wounded Marine Sgt. Phillip Bocks to see then-Spc. Kain Schilling take an enemy round to his left leg. White rushed to his buddy and for the second time that day applied a second tourniquet to Schilling, the only one he had left, his own belt.
White will receive the Medal of Honor for his disregard of his own life while trying to save the lives of a Marine and two fellow soldiers after his team of 14 U.S. soldiers and squad of Afghan National Army soldiers were set up and ambushed by a much larger and more heavily armed Taliban force, who engaged in a three-prong attack from elevated ground.

He will become the seventh living recipient of the nation's highest military decoration for conspicuous gallantry and valor during actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

DEPUTY SECRETARY CARTER VISITS HERAT, AFGHANISTAN CONSULATE TWO DAYS AFTER ATTACK

Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter addresses service members as he surveys the damage to the U.S. Consulate in Herat, Afghanistan, Sept. 14, 2013. A day earlier, troops fought off a Taliban attack. DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett 
FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
Carter Visits Herat Consulate, Praises Defeat of Attackers
By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 14, 2013 - On the second day of his trip to Afghanistan to assess the progress of the retrograde, Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited the U.S. Consulate in Herat, which was attacked yesterday morning.

Following a stop at Camp Leatherneck for a briefing by Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lee Miller, commander of Regional Command Southwest, Miller and Carter flew to Herat aboard a V-22 Osprey.

Two Afghan police officers and a security guard were killed in a complex early morning assault that involved armed Taliban fighters and a vehicle bomb. About 20 people were injured and the consulate building was damaged, and all seven of the Taliban attackers were killed.

"Now, the individuals that attacked here yesterday did what they did because they wanted to get headlines," Carter told the U.S., Afghan and coalition forces at Herat. But they didn't get the headlines they expected, the deputy defense secretary added.

"The headline they're getting is that they were defeated," he said. "They were defeated in just a few minutes. And not only were they defeated, but there was an overwhelming and incredibly confident American, Afghan and coalition response ... ready to deal with the situation."

Carter told the troops that he and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel were incredibly impressed with their efforts. "You should be very proud," he added.

After a brief stop at the Shindand air base, where Afghan air force pilots and aircraft maintainers are trained, Carter returned to Kabul for meetings with Afghan Defense Minister Bismullah Khan Mohammadi and Interior Minister Umar Daudzai.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

U.S. TREASURY DESIGNATES AL-QA'IDA OFFICIAL AND A MADRASSA USED TO TRAIN TALIBAN FIGHTERS

FROM:  U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT 
Treasury Designates Senior Al-Qa’ida Official and Terrorist Training Center Supporting Lashkar-E Tayyiba and the Taliban
Designations Include First Sanctions Against a Madrassa Used to Train Taliban Fighters

 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated Umar Siddique Kathio Azmarai (Azmarai), a senior Al-Qa’ida official, and Jamia Taleem-Ul-Quran-Wal-Hadith Madrassa, also known as the Ganj Madrassa, a school in Peshawar that serves as a training center and facilitates funding for al-Qa’ida, Lashkar-e Tayyiba, and the Taliban.  The activities of the Ganj Madrassa exemplify how terrorist groups, such as al-Qa’ida, Lashkar-e Tayyiba, and the Taliban, subvert seemingly legitimate institutions, such as religious schools, to divert charitable donations meant for education to support violent acts.  Today’s action is the first designation of a madrassa that is being abused by terrorist organizations.  This action does not generally target madrassas, which often play an essential role in improving literacy and providing humanitarian and developmental aid in many areas of the world, including Pakistan.

“Today’s action strikes at the heart of the financial and logistical support network that abuses charitable donations and provides essential services for various terrorist groups including al-Qa’ida, Lashkar-e Tayyiba, and the Taliban.  These networks provide the fighters, training, and supplies for these terrorist groups to carry out their acts of violence against coalition forces and civilians alike,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. “We will continue to work with our partners around the world to dismantle these terrorist networks, especially those that try to conceal their sinister activities behind critical community organizations like madrassas.”

During his long tenure with al-Qa’ida, Azmarai has held a number of important positions.  He is al-Qa’ida’s leader in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, Pakistan, and has been a significant financial facilitator for the group, moving hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of its leadership and operations.  Azmarai has also acted as a courier for al-Qa’ida officials and has managed logistics for family members of senior al-Qa’ida leadership, including Usama bin Laden.  

Treasury today also designated the Ganj Madrassa in Peshawar, Pakistan, which is controlled by designated al-Qa’ida facilitator Fazeel-A-Tul Shaykh Abu Mohammed Ameen Al-Peshawari, also known as Shaykh Aminullah.  Shaykh Aminullah was designated by both the United States and United Nations (UN) in 2009 for providing material support to al-Qa’ida and the Taliban.

The Ganj Madrassa serves as a terrorist training center where students, under the guise of religious studies, have been radicalized to conduct terrorist and insurgent activities.  In some cases, students were trained to become bomb manufacturers and suicide bombers.  Shaykh Aminullah has directed donations provided for the school to terrorist groups such as the Taliban, which use the money to fund the ongoing violence in Afghanistan.

The Ganj Madrassa was designated today pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorist and their supporters, for being controlled by Shaykh Aminullah and for providing financial and material support to Lashkar-e Tayyiba and the Taliban.  Azmarai was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 for acting on behalf of al-Qa’ida.

As a result of today’s designation, any assets these entities may have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from doing business with them.

Umar Siddique Kathio Azmarai
In addition to his financial activities on behalf of al-Qa’ida, Azmarai has been active in multiple other facilitation duties for al-Qa’ida.  As of early 2012, Azmarai facilitated the procurement of secure areas in Pakistan for al-Qa’ida to house militants and store vehicles. Azmarai has frequently acted as a courier within Pakistan for al-Qa’ida leaders and other al-Qa’ida facilitators.  As of early 2003, Azmarai was a courier between al-Qa’ida cells in Pakistan and the Persian Gulf and, as of late 2002, was a courier for senior al-Qa’ida operational planner Khalid Shaykh Muhammad.

Azmarai's facilitation duties on behalf of al-Qa’ida have also included providing logistical support to al-Qa’ida members and their families.  As of 2011, Azmarai assisted al-Qa’ida's administrative manager with managing the care of important al-Qa’ida members' families, including facilitating their finances, housing, and medical care.  In 1999, Azmarai assisted in making logistical arrangements for al-Qa’ida members and their families in Karachi, Pakistan.  Azmarai was also specifically responsible for providing support to members of now-deceased al-Qa’ida leader Usama bin Laden's family. Bin Laden's son-in-law selected Azmarai in late 1999 to look after bin Laden's family and, in mid-2000, Azmarai began working directly for bin Laden's family, facilitating their travel, lodging, and medical needs.  From late 2001 through early 2002, Azmarai was responsible for bin Laden's family members in Karachi. In mid-2002, Azmarai worked for bin Laden's son, now-deceased Saad bin Laden.
Ganj Madrassa

Under Shaykh Aminullah’s leadership, the Ganj Madrassa has trained and harbored Taliban fighters who have subsequently been dispatched to Afghanistan.  As recently as early 2013, Shaykh Aminullah was recruiting for Lashkar-e Tayyiba at the Ganj Madrassa and, as of late 2012, was hosting al-Qa’ida operatives there.

Shaykh Aminullah has provided assistance, including funding and recruits, to al-Qaida.  In addition, he directs donations received by the Ganj Madrassa to jihadist fighters battling coalition forces in Afghanistan and also uses the money to train madrassa students to become Taliban fighters.  Shaykh Aminullah frequently travels to the Gulf to obtain charity donations on the madrassa’s behalf.


Monday, March 4, 2013

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR MARCH 4, 2013


Photo Credit:  U.S. Marine Corps.
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Combined Force Arrests Haqqani Leader
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, March 4, 2013 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader during an operation in the Nadir Shah Kot district of Afghanistan's Khost province today, military officials reported.

The arrested insurgent is believed responsible for organizing and conducting improvised explosive device and mortar attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- In the Baraki Barak district of Logar province, a combined force arrested a Taliban facilitator and two other insurgents. The arrested Taliban facilitator is accused of procuring and distributing weapons for Taliban fighters in the district. He also is alleged to have directed IED and small-arms attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force arrested two insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader in the Sherzad district of Nangarhar province. The arrested Taliban leader is believed to be responsible for directing and participating in attacks on Afghan and coalition forces in the district. He also is accused of being involved with a network that has executed innocent Afghan citizens and actively seeks to recruit fighters to conduct attacks against coalition forces. He also is accused of extorting the residents of the district, using the money to fund illegal activities.

-- In the Kandahar district of Kandahar province, a combined force arrested a Taliban facilitator and one other insurgent. The Taliban facilitator is accused of coordinating the movement of supplies, weapons and IED-making materials for use against Afghan and coalition forces. He also is believed heavily involved in recruiting efforts ahead of the spring fighting season.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined force killed three insurgents and wounded one other in the Ghaziabad district of Kunar province.

-- In the Khanabad district of Kunduz province, a combined force killed one insurgent.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR OCTOBER 16, 2012

Photo Credit:  U.S. Marine Corps
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Coalition Expresses Regret for Possible Civilian Casualties

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force and ISAF Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2012 - International Security Assistance Force officials today expressed regret that an Oct. 14 coalition operation against suspected insurgents planting roadside bombs in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province may have killed three Afghan civilians.

"The coalition extends its deep regret for this tragic incident," officials said in a written statement issued from ISAF headquarters in the Afghan capital of Kabul. "We also extend our sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who died, and we take full responsibility for what occurred."

Officials said the coalition will work closely with Afghan officials to determine what happened and why, and that they also will meet with the family members of those who died to personally express ISAF's regret and condolences.

The operation did not involve close air support as reported in some media, officials said, adding that the incident remains under investigation.

In Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force in Nangarhar province arrested a Taliban leader who commanded Taliban fighters and had a direct role in the movement and escape of an insider-attack shooter across Afghan borders. The security force also detained several suspected insurgents and seized weapons and mortar components.

-- An Afghan and coalition force detained several insurgents while searching a Taliban explosives expert in Helmand province.

-- In Ghazni province, an Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, arrested a Haqqani network leader who coordinated attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces and provided weapons to insurgents in Logar province. The security force also detained several suspected insurgents.

Friday, October 12, 2012

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR OCTOBER 12, 2012

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Combined Force Arrests Haqqani Leader

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 12, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader in Paktiya province today, military officials reported.

The arrested insurgent leader is suspected of conducting improvised explosive device and indirect-fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

The security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents and seized several assault weapons and a large quantity of explosive material as a result of the operation, officials said.

In other operations today:

-- A combined force killed a number of armed insurgents during a search for Taliban fighters in Sar-e Pul province. The security force seized several assault rifles, shotguns, and grenades during the operation.

-- A combined force arrested a number of suspected insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader in Helmand province. The sought-after Taliban leader is responsible for directing multiple attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces throughout Helmand province.

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