INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE JOINT COMMAND NEWS

Photo Credit:  U.S. Air Force
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Combined Force Seizes Explosives, Weapons Caches
Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2012 – An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force seized two caches containing chemicals, weapons and improvised explosive device-making components in the Ab Band district of Ghazni province yesterday, military officials reported.

The first cache contained more than 3,300 pounds of chemicals used in the production of homemade explosives, officials said.

The second cache, officials said, contained 120 IED electronic control devices, 30 anti-personnel mines, and five IEDs. All of the materials were destroyed.

In other Afghanistan operations yesterday:
-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Kajaki district of Helmand province. The wanted insurgent leader plans, directs and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force-requested airstrike killed the insurgent leader, Musa -- also known as Baitullah and Qalam -- in the Waygal district of Nuristan province. Musa was associated with both al-Qaida and Taliban forces operating in the Waygal district.

-- A combined force detained one suspect carrying IED-making material in Ghazni province’s Andar district.

-- A combined force detained one suspect in Khowst province’s Khowst district.
-- A combined force detained three suspects in Logar province’s Muhammad Aghah district.

-- A combined force killed four insurgents during a firefight in the Giyan district of Paktika province.

-- Coalition forces killed one insurgent during a firefight engagement in Paktika province’s Bermal district.

-- A combined force discovered a cache containing small-arms ammunition in the Gardez district of Paktika province.

-- A combined force detained one insurgent in Paktika province’s Gardez district.
-- A combined force killed two insurgents during a firefight in Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district.

GENERAL ALLEN APPOLGIZES FOR AIRSTRIKE

 Photo: Marine Corps General John R. Allen.  Credit:  U.S. Department of Defense.
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Allen Visits Afghan Officials, Families of Dead
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2012 - The commander of International Security Assistance Forces today visited Afghan officials and the families of civilians reportedly killed during a June 6 airstrike and issued an apology for the attack, a senior Pentagon official said.
Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen "did render his apologies for the civilian casualties that we caused," Navy Capt. John Kirby said in response to a reporter's question. "We know that we did cause a number of civilian casualties in this air strike, and he also made it clear that we would make good in terms of compensation to the families."

News reports say 18 Afghan civilians were killed in the airstrike, but Kirby noted an assessment team continues to investigate. "It would be premature and irresponsible" to discuss specific numbers, he said.

Kirby explained the incident leading to the airstrike which came after ISAF troops were fired upon while tracking Taliban fighters in eastern Logar province.
"As the joint Afghan-U.S. force approached the building, a number of our forces were taken under fire," he said. "A hand grenade was thrown and some of our people ... were wounded."

"Those forces called out to the people who were shooting at them to come out," he added. "They refused."

The coalition force used procedures in the tactical directive that seek to limit deadly force until there were no further alternatives, Kirby said.
"Unfortunately, the situation became worse and eventually air support was requested," he said. "And then, sadly, innocent people were killed, along with insurgents who were in the building when that air support was used."

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, explained in a press briefing yesterday how knowledge of potential civilian casualties came about.

"At the time, there were two civilians who came forward declaring that they'd been wounded in the action," the general said. "We did a sweep of the area and did not, at that time, find any other civilian casualties in the rubble."

Following the search, Dempsey said, a leader of the province came forward and said further searching in the rubble yielded more civilian casualties.

"We don't know, at this point, the scope and scale of it," he said. "As you know, we do our very best to avoid civilian casualties, so this investigation will try to determine if there were civilian casualties and then we will take the appropriate actions."

Kirby pointed out while there was a loss of civilian lives, "we also know that we killed a number of insurgents, as well."

"[But] as I said before, we take these allegations – if they're proven that we have harmed innocent civilians – very seriously, as evidenced by General Allen's trip there today," he said.

"But we also work very hard to limit civilian casualties and when they're caused, we atone for that," Kirby said. "The Taliban doesn't. The Taliban causes far more civilian casualties than we do, and oftentimes, it's deliberate and malicious."

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE NEWS RELEASE IN AFGHANISTAN MAY 30, 2012

Photo:  Helicopter Flying Over Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force.

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Combined Force Kills Several Insurgents

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 30, 2012 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents during an operation to detain a Taliban facilitator in the Sayyidabad district of Afghanistan's Wardak province today, military officials reported.

The Taliban facilitator works directly for the senior Taliban leader in Sayyidabad and also supplies weapons, ammunition and equipment to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition troops, officials said.

As the combined force approached the leader's location, multiple insurgents fired on the troops from within a building, which was later determined to be a mosque. The security force returned fire, killing the insurgents. The Afghan troops entered the building to ensure no insurgents remained.

As the Afghan force cleared the area, they discovered one of the insurgents killed in the exchange had an unstable grenade rigged to his equipment. The Afghan troops requested a coalition explosives expert enter the building and defuse the grenade. The explosives expert rendered the grenade safe, removed it without incident, and departed the area as the Afghan forces finished clearing the building.

During the subsequent search, the Afghan forces recovered a machine gun, multiple AK-47 rifles and several grenades.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined force detained a Taliban facilitator in the Washer district of Helmand province. The facilitator worked for Taliban leaders in the district and provided weapons, ammunition and equipment to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also performed investigations for the Taliban and attempted to intimidate Afghan civilians who supported the government of Afghanistan.

-- A combined force detained numerous suspected insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader in the Panjwa'i district of Kandahar province. The sought-after Taliban leader plans and coordinates attacks against Afghan government officials, as well as Afghan and coalition troops. He also coordinates the movement of insurgents and weapons into the Panjwa'i district.

-- In the Sabari district of Khost province, a combined force called in an airstrike that killed several insurgents, and it also seized AK-47 rifles, several magazines and multiple grenades, and detained numerous suspects during an operation to capture a Haqqani facilitator. The facilitator supplies weapons, ammunition, rockets and explosives to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition troops throughout the district. As the security force approached the insurgent leader's location, several armed insurgents appeared. After ensuring no civilians were in the area, the security force called for a precision airstrike to engage the enemy fighters. Several insurgents were killed and a follow-on assessment determined that no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during an operation to capture a Haqqani facilitator in the Musahi district of Kabul province. The facilitator is involved in the preparations for an attack in Kabul City against Afghan officials and Afghan and coalition troops. He also coordinates the movement of explosives, weapons and equipment between Haqqani leaders and subordinate insurgents.

And in operations yesterday, a combined force killed several Taliban fighters and seized multiple AK-47 rifles, grenades and IEDs during an operation to detain a Taliban leader in the Almar district of Faryab province. The leader plans and organizes roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and is responsible for distributing funds to Taliban district commanders.

AIRSTRIKE KILLS INSURGENTS IN AFGHAN OPERATIONS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Airstrike Kills Insurgents in Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, April 17, 2012 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force called in an airstrike that killed several insurgents in the Nerkh district of Afghanistan's Wardak province today, military officials reported.

Insurgents were observed setting up a heavy machine gun near a village while preparing to attack Afghan security forces, officials said.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- While searching for a Taliban leader, a combined force called in an airstrike that killed several insurgents in the Khakrez district of Kandahar province. The security force also detained a suspect and seized assault rifles and grenades.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader, detained two other insurgents and seized a pistol in the Zurmat district of Paktia province. The leader directed roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also is suspected in supplying bombs for a suicide attack against an Afghan military commander.

In an April 16 operation, combined forces found and destroyed 12 anti-personnel mines, 90 mine detonators, 73 rocket-propelled grenades, 65 RPG fuses, 51 RPG fuel cells and about 9,500 7.62 mm rounds in the Tarin Kot district of Uruzgan province.