Opinion Editorials, September 2010

NATO says 3 service members killed, clash leaves 30 insurgents dead in eastern Afghanistan

Published September 25, 2010

Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) —

 Three NATO service members were killed in two bomb blasts and more than 30 Taliban fighters (referred to by AP as insurgents) died in a clash with coalition troops in eastern Afghanistan, the military alliance said Saturday.

NATO also said it captured an insurgent commander linked to attacks on Afghan officials and violence during last weekend's parliamentary elections, and killed another.

In a statement Saturday, NATO said two service members were killed by a bomb blast in the east, but did not provide further details. It said another died in a separate blast in the south. The nationalities of NATO casualties are not generally released until after next of kin are notified.

This year is already the deadliest of the war, with 531 international forces killed as of Saturday.

Also in the east, more than 30 insurgents were killed during an operation involving a combined force of about 250 Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, and coalition soldiers in Alishing district of Laghman province. No civilians were harmed during the operation, NATO said.

Afghan and coalition security forces detained several insurgents in Khost province, along the Pakistan border, on Friday, including a Haqqani commander linked to attacks against Afghan officials, NATO said. It said the commander was also involved in ambushing a vehicle and stealing a ballot box during last week's elections.

The Haqqani network is a Pakistan-based faction of the Taliban with close ties to al-Qaida.

The arrests led to the seizure of bomb-making material and military equipment, including an automatic weapon, pistol, rocket-propelled grenade launcher, magazines and loose ammunition — along with three U.S. combat uniforms similar to those recently used in attacks against a coalition base, NATO said.

An airstrike killed a Taliban commander who helped conduct bomb attacks and was directly linked to last week's election violence, NATO said.

Election day on Sept. 18 was marred by rocket attacks and bombings at polling stations in volatile areas. At least 21 civilians and nine police officers were killed during the voting, according to the election commission and Interior Ministry.

US-led soldier dies in Afghan war

Press TV, Sat Sep 25, 2010, 2:11PM

US-led troops patrolling a village in Afghanistan A powerful bomb explosion has killed one US-led soldier in Afghanistan as the death toll of foreign forces continues to rise in the war-ravaged country.

NATO issued a statement on Saturday, saying that one of the soldiers was killed by an improvised bomb in southern Afghanistan.

The US-led alliance, however, did not announce the exact location of the incident or the nationality of the victim.

The incident took place after another two soldiers were killed in a separate bomb attack in eastern parts of the country on Friday.

At least 536 US-led NATO troops have lost their lives in Afghanistan so far this year, making 2010 the deadliest year for NATO since the war began nine years ago.

The total US and NATO casualties in the past 20 months are more than the entire death toll in the first seven years of the war.

According to official figures, Since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, some 2,100 NATO forces have been killed.

However, Afghanistan's Baakhtar news agency put the overal death toll of the foreign troops at about 4,500.

JR/CS/MMN

Coalition Forces Kill Insurgents in Failed Attack

ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan

2010-09-IA-270 For Immediate Release

KABUL, Afghanistan (September 24, 2010) -

At least five insurgents were killed and one captured during a failed attack on Forward Operating Base Gardez in Paktiya province today.

The attack began when a vehicle, followed closely by four suicide-vest-wearing insurgents, attempted to breach a fortified area of the base.

Coalition forces engaged the vehicle, destroying it and disrupting the attack. The remaining attackers were killed as they attempted to flee the scene.

In the aftermath of the incident, explosive ordnance disposal soldiers found and disposed of the suicide vests. No coalition forces were killed or injured.

The operation is still ongoing with coalition forces pursuing the remainder of the attacking force, estimated to be around 20.

Taliban Deputy Military Commander Captured in Helmand

ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
2010-09-CA-279 For Immediate Release
 KABUL, Afghanistan (Sept. 25, 2010) -

The International Security Assistance Force confirmed a Taliban military commission member for the Babaji area of Nad 'Ali district was captured during an overnight operation in Helmand province Thursday.

He was also assessed to be the new deputy military commander for the Lashkar Gah and Narh-e Saraj area. Additionally, a newly appointed Taliban military commander for the Babaji area was among those detained during the operation.

"Afghan and coalition forces are consistently targeting Taliban leadership operating in Helmand," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, ISAF Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. "The targeted individual replaced the former deputy commander after he was captured by Afghan-led forces earlier this month. In several areas throughout the country, insurgent commanders don't hold their positions long before they are captured. It's only a matter of time before the leadership of the Taliban are forced to leave Pakistan and join the fight in Afghanistan."

Based on intelligence reports, the security force targeted a remote compound in Nahr-e Saraj district to search for the commander. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully and then the joint security force began to clear and secure the compound.

After the area was secure, the security force conducted initial questioning at the scene before detaining the commander, who was apprehended in a tree line near the compound, along with his three associates. The security force also discovered 50 pounds of wet opium, which is often trafficked to fund the insurgency.

The assault force protected the women and children for the duration of the search.

Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah & ccun.org.

editor@aljazeerah.info & editor@ccun.org