NOTE: The following text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46447
Coalition Forces Kill, Capture Militants in Afghanistan
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2007 – Afghan and coalition forces killed several militants and detained seven others during operations in Afghanistan during the past two days. Meanwhile, seven Afghan children died during a coalition air strike.
Afghan and coalition forces detained five suspected militants in an operation early today against Taliban forces in the Sharan district of Paktika province. Credible intelligence led the forces to the suspected al Qaeda fighter safe house, where troops discovered suspected insurgents during a search, officials said.
In an operation in Paktika province’s Zarghun Shah district yesterday, Afghan and coalition forces killed several militants and detained two others, military officials said.
Coalition forces received credible information that a compound containing a mosque and a religious school was being used as an al Qaeda fighter safe house. Troops confirmed the presence of insurgent activity at the site before getting approval to conduct an air strike, military officials said.
Following the strike, residents of the compound confirmed that al Qaeda fighters had been present all day. As military officials reported earlier, seven children at the school died during the strike.
According to children who survived the air strike, the seven children who were killed were being held inside the building throughout the day. Witness statements taken early this morning claim the suspected terrorists prevented the children from leaving the compound by beating the young captives and pushing them away from the door if they attempted to flee.
“This is another example of al Qaeda using the protective status of a mosque, as well as innocent civilians, to shield themselves,” said U.S. Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman. “We are saddened by the innocent lives that were lost as a result of militants’ cowardice.”
In another engagement, enemy fighters attacked Afghan National Police officers and coalition forces 10 miles southwest of the Sangin District Center, in Helmand province, early yesterday afternoon.
Combined forces repelled the initial attack with small-arms and artillery fire before requesting close-air support to suppress the enemy fighters.
Later that night, additional enemy fighters arrived from the west side of the Helmand River to reinforce several enemy positions in a trench line. The combined force maneuvered to defendable positions, then directed coalition helicopters and close-air-support aircraft to drop munitions on enemy positions.
Military officials said several dozen enemy combatants died during the prolonged battle. Two coalition members were injured during the fighting and were evacuated to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
In the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province, 10 enemy fighters attacked Afghan national security and coalition forces near the village of Eybak. The coalition patrol returned fire and pursued the enemy fighters as they fled to an unoccupied compound. Enemy forces continued to fire upon the combined forces from inside the compound.
Coalition forces requested close-air support, which destroyed the enemy position with munitions. Several enemy fighters died during the five-hour battle, military officials said.
“Afghan national security and coalition forces will prevail against the enemy insurgents in the Sangin and Shah Wali Kot Districts,” Belcher said. “We will intensify our operations to rid both areas of insurgent fighters and prevent their return.”
(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)
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Note: The folloiwng text is a quote:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46448
Troops in Iraq Kill, Detain Scores of Insurgents, Find Iranian Rockets
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2007 – Coalition forces killed 21 insurgents, detained 31 and wounded six others in Iraq during the past three days, military officials said. Meanwhile, troops there discovered six Iranian-made rockets.
Coalition forces killed at least 20 terrorists, wounded six others and detained a suspect during operations this morning targeting secret cells operating in the Maysan province of eastern Iraq.
The detained individual is an alleged member of the secret cell terrorist network known for transporting weapons and explosively formed penetrators — a particularly deadly, armor-piercing form of roadside bombs — from Iran to Iraq, military officials said. The group also is responsible for bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training.
In coordination with the Iraqi government, coalition forces conducted raids in Amarah and Majjar al-Kabir, where coalition troops came under heavy small-arms fire and rocket-propelled-grenade attacks.
Ground forces retaliated with close-air support to suppress the enemy fire, killing at least 20 terrorists. Military officials said the strafing wounded six suspected terrorists. Coalition fire also destroyed a vehicle being used by the terrorists as a fighting position.
“Terrorists learned this morning that there is no safe haven in Iraq,” said Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “Coalition forces will seek out and find terrorists anywhere and everywhere in Iraq.”
Iraqi police detained four insurgents as they attempted to plant an improvised explosive device early this morning near Tikrit. U.S. surveillance helicopters from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade engaged and wounded the four individuals after observing them carry and place materials into a hole. They are being treated for their wounds and have been detained for further questioning by local Iraqi security forces.
During operations today and yesterday to disrupt the al Qaeda car-bomb network in Baghdad, coalition forces detained 11 suspected terrorists.
Troops netted four suspected terrorists allegedly involved with the car-bomb cell this morning in southern Baghdad, military officials said. They captured another individual with suspected ties to a smuggling ring known for bringing bomb-making materials into Iraq.
In a raid in Baghdad and Haditha yesterday, coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists whose network supports Syria-based extremists and provides suicide bombers, vehicles and explosives for the cell.
“Disrupting the bombing network in Baghdad is a high priority for us, and we will continue to target the cells’ leaders and members,” Garver said.
Yesterday, soldiers from 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment supporting Operation Marne Torch, detained five individuals while conducting a company-sized operation in the city of Duraiya. The purpose of the mission was to disrupt key insurgent networks from freedom of maneuver in the battalion’s area of operation, military officials said.
To prevent insurgents from entering southern Baghdad, fixed-wing aircraft dropped four precision-guided bombs on targeted sites June 16, beginning the major Marne Torch offensive. The aircraft supported about 1,200 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, soldiers focused on the security belts surrounding Baghdad.
The brigade’s efforts are part of the larger operation recently announced by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multinational Force Iraq commander.
Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers and aviation assets discovered six rockets in a schoolyard yesterday in Baghdad’s Rashid district, military officials said. While aircrews from 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment investigated an area suspected as the point of origin for rocket fire against Baghdad’s International Zone, they spotted suspicious looking objects in a school yard.
Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, assigned to 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, arrived 30 minutes later and found six Iranian-made 107 mm rockets. An explosive ordnance disposal unit later disposed of the munitions.
“Great teamwork and cooperation between vigilant Army aviators and our soldiers prevented those rockets from being used against the people of Rashid and the forces securing the district,” said U.S. Army Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, the 4th Brigade Combat Team commander.
In other news from Iraq, soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment on a mounted patrol in Baghdad’s Adhamiyah District on June 16 received small-arms fire from a small group of ski mask-wearing insurgents on a rooftop. Soldiers returned fire, and the insurgents fled. A wild chase through the city streets followed as the soldiers attempted to cut off the insurgents’ escape route, U.S. officials said.
During the ensuing 20-minute battle, coalition forces killed one insurgent and nabbed three others.
Military officials reported today that Iraqi security forces detained four suspected terrorists yesterday believed to have information regarding the June 13 Askari Mosque bombing in Samarra. Acting on previous intelligence, forces raided the target building and detained the four individuals believed to be linked to the recent bombing and other criminal activity in Samarra, officials said.
Iraqi forces also seized several propaganda documents, a compact disc showing attacks against coalition forces, several cell phones, 10 feet of detonation cord, 81 blasting caps, identification cards for access to the mosque, and photos depicting terrorist training.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)