Tuesday, October 16, 2012

5 rebel leaders among 22 detained: NDS

KABUL (PAN): Five rebel commanders were detained along with 20 associates and a large quantity of explosives recovered, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) announced on Tuesday.

NDS deputy spokesman Shafiqullah Tahiri identified the detained rebel leaders as Safiullah, alias Sufi, Mullah Mohammad, alias Saddam, Sardar Wali and Najmuddin. alias Muslim.

They were arrested in Herat, Kandahar and Helmand provinces, Tahiri told a news conference in Kabul. During preliminary investigations, the detainees confessed to involvement in attacks and insurgent activities.

Tahiri said suicide-vests, explosives, anti-personnel landmines and some sensitive documents were recovered from the detainees.

The Tajik nationals, linked to Lashkar-i-Taiba, had fake Afghan identity cards, he said, adding they were apprehended by intelligence operatives in the Pul-i-Charkhi locality of Kabul. 

Another suspect, who concealed explosives in washing machines, was detained in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province.

The man was allegedly trying to deliver the explosives to Mullah Khan Mohammad, the Taliban-designated chief for Chamtal district of Balkh.

Tahiri also announced the seizure of 30,000 kilogram of ammonium nitrate, a banned fertiliser used in making bombs, 1,039 kg of hashish, 46 weapons, 155 landmines, two vehicles and an explosive-laden motorbike.

from Pajhwok
by Pajhwok Report on Oct 16, 2012 - 19:37   

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Yemeni gov't forces abort terrorist operation in Aden

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)
ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni government forces managed Tuesday to abort a terrorist operation by al-Qaida militants in the southern port city of Aden, the Defense Ministry reported.

The bomb disposal unit backed by soldiers of the counter- terrorism forces defused a booby-trapped car that was parked inside a house used by al-Qaida militants in Aden's neighborhood of Mansoura, the country's defense ministry said in a brief text message obtained by Xinhua.

"A group of al-Qaida militants who were gathering inside the house fled the area early.The troops stormed the building and found an explosives-laden car," the statement said.

Yemen's military launched a month-long army offensive that forced the al-Qaida militants to flee several bastions in the country's restive southern and eastern provinces which they captured during last year's political turmoil.

The resurgent branch of al-Qaida which has increased its attacks on both Western and government targets in the Arabian Peninsula state vowed to carry out more suicide attacks to take revenge.

Fighting al-Qaida militants in restive south is one of several challenges confronting current President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has promised to launch a national dialogue to settle disputes between all political factions.

Also, he has sworn to uproot the Yemeni branch of al-Qaida with the help of the United States and neighboring Saudi Arabia.

from XINHUA
2012-10-16 16:51:47
Editor: Wang Yuanyuan

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15 Pakistani Taliban killed in Ghazni raid

English: Map of the districts of Ghazni provin...
districts of Ghazni province (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
GHAZNI CITY (PAN): Fifteen Pakistani militants were among 17 insurgents killed during an airstrike in the southern province of Ghazni, officials said on Tuesday.

The operation was conducted by Afghan and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops in the Sanginak area of Andar district late on Monday

A spokesman for the 203rd Thunder Military Corps, Nazif Sultani, told Pajhwok Afghan News of the 17 fighters killed in the airstrike, 15 had Pakistan identity cards.

Civilians, Afghan and collation troops suffered no casualties during the operation, Sultani said, adding the air raid targeted a compound where the insurgents were hiding.

But a Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the rebels had killed seven Afghan and two foreign soldiers during the clash in the Shelgar area of Andar district.

Of the 15 fighters surrounded by the soldiers, three were killed and the rest managed to escape, he added.

from Pajhwok
by Saifullah Maftoon on Oct 16, 2012 - 13:22   

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Nigeria: 15 Explosions, Gunfire Rock Maiduguri

At least 15 separate explosions punctuated by gunfire echoed Monday across a Maiduguri city, leaving more than 10 persons dead and telecommunication masts burnt.

Attacks in Maiduguri, the sect's spiritual home, have grown increasingly commonplace, but the apparent sustained strikes, which began Monday afternoon and continued into the evening, saw soldiers lock down nearly every street in the city center.

It remained unclear what was happening Monday night, as police and military officials did not answer repeated calls for comment as sirens wailed across the city. Witnesses at the scene of one of the blasts said a primary school was ablaze.

Workers and journalists found themselves trapped inside the Maiduguri office compound of the Borno state governor, as police officers manning the facility locked every gate and stood nervously on guard. Asked what was happening, one officer simply said: "The town is bad."

Earlier Monday, witnesses said a gunman suspected to belong to Boko Haram shot dead a police traffic warden in the city within view of a military checkpoint. The gunman simply walked away after the attack unstopped, witnesses said.

Boko Haram has been launching guerrilla attacks against Nigeria's weak central government for months as part of its efforts to free its imprisoned members and enact strict Islamic law across the multi-ethnic nation largely halved between Christians and Muslims. In recent days, it has begun a renewed offensive in Maiduguri.

On Oct. 5, a bombing by suspected Boko Haram members that killed an army lieutenant sparked a violent retaliation by soldiers. Troops opened fire with assault rifles and heavy machine guns mounted on armored personnel carriers on a busy street near the local headquarters of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, according to witnesses.

Afterward, an Associated Press journalist counted the bodies of more than 30 dead civilians and saw more than 50 shops and homes burned.

The military later denied it killed civilians, but offered contradictory explanations about what happened. Activists say they worry that other recent military strikes against Boko Haram may have killed civilians as well.

Boko Haram, which speaks to journalists in telephone conference calls at times of its choosing, could not be immediately reached for comment Monday night. The sect has killed more than 690 people this year alone, according to an AP count.

from allAfrica/Leadership
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R.I.P. - Sgt. Robert J. Billings

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

            Sgt. Robert J. Billings, 30, of Clarksville, Va., died Oct. 13, in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

            For more information the media may contact the 7th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office by calling 253-477-5746 or 253-477-0174.  After duty hours, call 253-477-5543, and ask for the 7th Infantry Division public affairs officer on call.

---

According to unit records, Sgt. Billings entered the Army in January 2006 and reported to Fort Benning, Ga. for Army Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training MOS 11B (Infantryman). Upon graduation from AIT he was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo. He arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in June 2009 and was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. He deployed with 4th Stryker Brigade to Iraq from September 2009 – August 2010. Sgt. Billings was assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division in January 2011. He deployed to Afghanistan with 3rd Stryker Brigade in December 2011. This was his second deployment.

Sgt. Billings’ civilian and military education includes High School Diploma (2001), Associates in Arts, Criminal Justice (2012), Field Sanitation Team Certification (2011), Unit Prevention Leader (2011), Airload Planner (2011), Warrior Leader Course (2010), Combatives Level 1 (2010), Combat Life Savers Course (2009), Force XXI Battle Command Brigade (2007), Military Occupational Specialty: 11B- Infantryman (2006).

His awards and decorations include Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (two awards), Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (two awards), NATO Medal, Certificate of Achievement, Combat Infantry Badge.
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R.I.P. - Spc. Brittany B. Gordon

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Spc. Brittany B. Gordon, 24, of St. Petersburg, Fla., died Oct. 13, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked her unit with an improvised explosive device.  She was assigned to the 572 Military Intelligence Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

            For more information the media may contact the 7th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office by calling 253-477-5746 or 253-477-0174.  After duty hours, call 253-477-5543, and ask for the 7th Infantry Division public affairs officer on call.

---
from Tampa Bay Times:
By Kameel Stanley, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, October 16, 2012
...
Gordon is the daughter of St. Petersburg assistant police chief Cedric Gordon and his former wife, Brenda Gordon. The 24-year-old grew up in St. Petersburg and graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 2006.

She is the first female soldier from the Tampa Bay area killed in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Her family was notified of her death Saturday. Her remains arrived early Monday morning at Dover Air Force Base.

Family members said Brittany Gordon's parents met the body in Delaware. Services have not been announced yet.

"I know that Chief Gordon was extremely proud of Brittany and all that she accomplished in her life," police Chief Chuck Harmon said in a statement. "Her life of service and especially service to her country stand as a testament to the type of person she was."

Family friend Cynthia Jolliff-Johnson said Brittany Gordon was vivacious.

"She was kind. She was compassionate. She really had a joie de vivre," Jolliff-Johnson said.

Gordon joined the military in 2010. This was her first deployment. She was assigned to the 572 Military Intelligence Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, the military said.

Gordon worked in military communications, relatives said. She was scheduled to return home in December.

Some 20,000 of the 205,000 service members serving in Afghanistan are women, according to the Department of Defense. Pentagon statistics show that, as of Monday, 152 military women have been killed and 947 wounded in combat and noncombat incidents in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Defense Department says there have been more than 2,000 total military deaths in Afghanistan.

Gordon is the 12th female soldier from Florida to die in the wars.
...
Read the full article here: http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/war/suicide-attack-killed-female-soldier-from-st-pete-says-cw-bill-young/1256498
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Oct. 16., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Nangarhar province today.

The arrested leader commanded Taliban fighters, and is directly associated with facilitating the movement and escape of an insider-attack shooter across Afghan borders.

The security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents and seized multiple weapons and mortar components as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

Coalition forces today confirmed they recently detained two insurgents during two separate Afghan-led operations in Kandahar.

• Haji Mama, a facilitator of weapons, ammunition, homemade explosives and improvised explosive devices was arrested Oct. 4.

• Mohammad Nabi, an insurgent facilitator of IEDs and radios, was arrested Oct. 12.

An Afghan and coalition force detained a number of insurgents during a security operation in search of a Taliban explosives expert in Helmand province, today.

East

An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, arrested a Haqqani leader in Ghazni province today. The arrested leader coordinated attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces and provided weapons to direct action cells located in northern Logar province. During the operation, the security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents.

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Oct. 16., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces cleared two improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Oct. 15.

Kapisa province
Afghan National Police found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Nejrab district.

Paktika province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Sharan district.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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