Wednesday, May 30, 2012

25 killed in battles between al-Qaida, army troops in southern Yemen

ADEN, Yemen, May 30 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 insurgents and 10 soldiers were killed in battles between government troops and the al-Qaida group on Wednesday morning in Yemen's southern province of Abyan, a military official told Xinhua.

The battles erupted when dozens of al-Qaida militants attempted to sneak into an army barrack of the 135th Armored Brigade on the western outskirts of Jaar town, a main stronghold of the terrorist group in Abyan, leaving at least 15 insurgents and 10 soldiers killed, the local military official said on condition of anonymity.

The clashes continued for several hours and 16 soldiers were critically injured in the fighting, he added.

An army officer told Xinhua anonymously that the al-Qaida militants tried to re-take control of Jabaleen area near Jaar town after they launched the attack on the army troops.

"It was the second attack in less than two days on the government troops around Jaar. The al-Qaida group received reinforcements and many foreign fighters," the army officer said.

Local residents said the Yemen air force attacked targets used by al-Qaida militants as places for meetings and media centers in Jaar, but no casualties have been reported.

Meanwhile, the county's defense ministry reported that an air raid has killed three al-Qaida militants and injured seven others near the coastal city of Shakra, Abyan, which has been controlled by the terrorist group since last year.

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8 policemen, 6 rebels dead in Badakhshan clash

FAIZABAD (PAN): Eight policemen and six Taliban fighters were killed, while 13 others, including two policemen, wounded during a clash with Taliban in northeastern Badakhshan province, officials said on Wednesday.

The clash erupted late Tuesday when a group of militants stormed police checkpoints in Shera area of Ordowj district, said Col. Sakhidad Haidari.

The provincial deputy police chief told Pajhwok Afghan News that both sides suffered causalities -- with the death of eight security men and six rebels in the skirmish.

However, Governor’s spokesman, Abdul Raof acknowledged losing eight security personnel and the detention of two other injured policemen, and verified two Taliban fighters killed and another two injured.

Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman while claiming responsibility for the attack, said 26 policemen were killed, two detained, as well as one of their fighters killed in the fight.

He added currently Taliban have full control of four checkpoints of the security personnel, torched six vehicles, seized some weapons and explosives during the raid.

from Pajhwok

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Mine planter killed and 4 others arrested in Helmand and Uruzgan provinces



Publish Date: May 30, 2012
One mine planter killed and four others arrested in Helmand and Uruzgan provinces
 
One mine planter was killed by his own explosives while he attempted to plant a roadside mine in the main road of Nad Ali District of Helmand province, yesterday.

Three other mine planters arrested by Afghan National Police while they were carrying the dead body of mine planter in the mentioned area.

In the meantime, Afghan National Police arrested a mine planter with two anti-vehicle mines while he attempted to plant anti-vehicle mines in the Noori region, Chora District of Uruzgan province, yesterday.

Afghan National Police are working diligently with local leaders and the public to prevent these types of acts from killing and wounding innocent civilians and security forces.
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7 killed 4 hurt in air strikes in Tirrah

LANDIKOTAL :    The forces have claimed to killed seven militants and wounded four others in air strikes conducted by the forces jets here in Dwa Toai area of tehsil Jamrud,sub-division of Khyber, official sources said on Tuesday. The sources said that last night at 11.00 pm the forces war planes targeted suspected hideouts of militants in far-flung Tirrah valley and inflicted lives lost on them.

However, the dwellers and local leaders of the area regretted and condemned the action of the forces and said that forces air planes bombarded civilian population and killed innocent tribesmen which must be investigated.

Tela Baz lamented that the forces jet planes which hit his home in the area killed his bother Noorbaz khan his nephew Kafayatullah and injured his sister-in-law whose funeral prayers were performed here on Tuesday in Kafer Tangee area of Jamrud.

Bakht Jamal, a local tribesman while commenting on the incident said,”It is not the first happen but in the near past in forces offenses against the miscreants hundreds of innocent tribal have been killed as collateral damages which is unjuistice to them.”

from onepakistan.com
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8 civilians killed following separate explosions in Nangarhar

Jalalabad District is located in the north-wes...
Nangarhar Province. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
According to local authorities in eastern Nangarhar province at least 8 Afghan civilians were killed following explosion in this province.

The officials further added the incident took place at Khogyani district after unknown gunmen attacked a residential house with hand grenades killing at least 5 family members including an Afghan child.

In a separate incident at least 3 people were killed following an explosion at Haska Mina in this province, local officials said.

Provincial governor spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai said the incident took place after after a vehicle carrying two government employees along with a local tribal elder, struck with the roadside bomb.

No group including the Taliban militants have so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

from KHAAMA
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R.I.P. - CWO 5 John C. Pratt, Capt. John R. Brainard

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

             The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

             They died May 28, in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when their helicopter crashed. The Soldiers were assigned to the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Ansbach-Katterbach, Germany.

             Killed were:

             Capt. John R. Brainard, 26, of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine;
and Chief Warrant Officer Five John C. Pratt, 51, of Springfield, Va.;

             For more information the media may contact U.S. Army Europe public affairs office at 49/622-157-3181.

---
Capt. John “Jay” Brainard III of Newport and his wife, Emily, in a Facebook photo.
from wlbz2:

A soldier from Maine has died in a helicopter accident in Afghanistan. Army Captain John R. Brainard, who was 26, was piloting an AH64 helicopter when it went down on patrol on Monday.

Captain Brainard grew up in the Newport/Dixmont area. He was a 2004 graduate of Foxcroft Academy and a 2008 graduate of the University of Maine. He was serving in the 12th Aviation Combat Brigade.

Gov. Paul LePage said in a statement, "It brings me great sadness to learn that Maine has lost Captain Brainard who dedicated himself to defending our State and Nation, and we are forever indebted to his display of courage and selfless sacrifice. It is with a heavy heart that I express my sincere condolences to his family and friends. This news never comes easy and is especially difficult knowing this young man made the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial Day. 

---

Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander, 3rd Infantry Division, pins the Soldiers Medal on Chief Warrant Officer John Pratt July 1.  Pratt was awarded the medal for heroism while helping several people involved in a car wreck in Florida last April.  Lynch had also pinned the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5 on Pratt just before giving him the medal.  (photo by Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Mills) - 07.02.2007
DOD identifies two soldiers killed in Afghanistan helo crash
Stars and Stripes
Published: May 30, 2012

The Department of Defense has released the names of the two soldiers killed Monday in a helicopter crash near Kabul, Afghanistan.

Capt. John R. Brainard, 26, of Newport, Maine, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 John C. Pratt, 51, of Springfield, Va., were assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, based in Ansbach-Katterbach, Germany, according to a 12th CAB news release.

Their AH-64D Longbow Apache went down in Wardak province, just west of Kabul, the release said.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The pilots were conducting routine combat operations, according to the unit.

U.S. Army Europe’s combat aviation brigade cased its colors April 20 in Katterbach, in preparation for its deployment to Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Brigade commander Col. Van J. Voorhees Jr. told attendees at the ceremony that the brigade would serve a 10-month tour in Regional Command-North in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and in Kuwait as part of Operation Spartan Shield.

The 12th CAB flies Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters for support, reconnaissance and assault missions.

According to information provided by the unit, Brainard was the brigade adjutant and was on his first combat tour in his four years of service. He is survived by his wife, Emily, and his parents, John Brainard and Susie Phelps of Newport, Maine.

Pratt was the brigade senior warrant officer and standardization pilot. He had deployed three times and served in the Army for more than 20 years. He is survived by his wife, Nicola, their daughter Emma, and his parents, John D. and Josephine Pratt, of Springfield, Va.
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21 armed insurgents killed, 9 wounded and 27 others arrested by ANP



Publish Date: May 30, 2012
21 armed insurgents killed, nine wounded and 27 others arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:
During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched 10 joint clearance operations in Kabul, Nangarhar, Faryab, Helmand, Uruzgan, Logar, Ghazni, Paktika and Paktiya provinces.

As a result of these operations, 21 armed insurgents were killed, nine wounded and 27 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.
Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated 277 kilograms of explosive materials, 10 AK-47 assault rifles with 33 magazines, one rocket launcher, two anti-vehicle mines, 13 hand grenades and six motorbikes.
During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused 40 different types of mines and 2000 kilograms of explosive materials as a result of security operations in the Bano and 1st Districts of Baghlan province.
 
Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained seven individuals accused of murder, theft, kidnapping and assault in the 1st, 8th, 9th, 7th and 11th Districts of Kabul-City.
Working together, we can defeat criminals and create a safer more prosperous future.
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May 30., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – A combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to detain a Taliban facilitator in Sayyidabad district, Wardak province, today.

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.

As the combined force approached the leader’s suspected location, multiple insurgents fired on the Afghan and coalition troops from within a building, which was later determined to be a mosque. The security force returned fire, killing the insurgent attackers. The Afghan troops went into 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-47s and several grenades.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to detain a Taliban leader in Almar district, Faryab province, yesterday. The leader plans and organizes roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the province and is responsible for distributing funds to the Taliban district commanders in Faryab.

During the mission, armed insurgents attacked the Afghan and coalition troops with small arms fire and grenades. The security force returned fire killing several Taliban fighters. The security force seized multiple AK-47s, grenades, and improvised explosive devices during a search of the area and reported that no civilians were harmed.

South

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

An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to detain a Taliban leader in Panjwa’i district, Kandahar province, today. The 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 Panjwa’i district. The security force detained numerous suspected insurgents during the operation.

East

In Sabari district, Khost province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture a Haqqani facilitator today. 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 leader’s suspected location, several armed insurgents attempted to maneuver toward the Afghan and coalition troops. After ensuring no civilians were in the area, the security force called for a precision airstrike to engage the enemy fighters. As a result, several insurgents were killed and a follow-on assessment determined that no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged.

During a subsequent search of the area, the security force recovered AK-47 rifles, several magazines and multiple grenades. The security force detained numerous additional insurgents, and seized multiple mortar rounds and a rocket-propelled grenade booster as a result of this operation.

Finally, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to detain a Haqqani facilitator in Musahi district, Kabul province, today. The facilitator is involved in the preparations for an attack in Kabul City against Afghan officials as well as Afghan and coalition troops. He also coordinates the movement of explosives, weapons and equipment between Haqqani leaders and subordinate insurgents. Several suspected insurgents were detained as a result of this operation.

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R.I.P. - Spc. Tofiga J. Tautolo

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Spc. Tofiga J. Tautolo, 23, of Wilmington, Calif., died May 27, in Bati Kot, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.

            Tautolo was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

            For more information related to this release, the media may contact the Fort Carson public affairs office at 719-526-7525.

---
from contracostatimes.com
by By Art Marroquin:

An Army soldier who briefly lived in Wilmington was killed when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy bomb in Afghanistan over the Memorial Day weekend, the U.S. Department of Defense said Tuesday.

Spc. Tofiga J. Tautolo, 23, died Sunday after the roadside explosive detonated in Bati Kot, located in the Nangarghar province, according to the DOD.

His remains were returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Monday.

Tautolo was a former Marine who joined the Army last May and earned several medals for his military service, including the Navy Unit Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, according to records supplied by his base in Fort Carson, Colo.

Tautolo and his wife, Rita, lived in Wilmington for several months in 2010 after he left the Marine Corps but before he enlisted in the Army. Funeral services were pending.

"He was a great man and I'm so sad to see him go," said Rita Tautolo, who now lives in Seattle with the couple's 18-month-old son.

"He was so adoring and friendly to everyone," she said. "He helped everybody who needed help."

Tautolo was a cavalry scout assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division in Fort Carson.

While serving in the Marine Corps, Tautolo was deployed to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan a year later.
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