Monday, May 6, 2013

R.I.P. - Staff Sgt. Eric D. Christian, Cpl. David M. Sonka, MWD Flex

DOD Identifies Marine Casualties

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

            They died May 4, while conducting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. They were both assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C.  This incident is under investigation.

            Killed were:

            Staff Sgt. Eric D. Christian, 39, of Warwick, N.Y., and

            Cpl. David M. Sonka, 23, of Parker, Colo.

            For more information media may contact the Marine Special Operations Command public affairs office at 910-440-0770.

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The Department of Defense issued a statement Monday saying that Christian, 39, and Cpl. David M. Sonka, 23, of Parker, Colo. were killed “while conducting combat operations” and that the incident is still under investigation.

News accounts say that the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the incident.

Christian was a Staff Sergeant assigned to the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C. and was working with a unit that was training an Afghan National Army soldier when the Afghani man allegedly turned his weapon on the Americans, killing the two Marines and a military dog, his brother said.

“We don’t have that many details because everything they do is very classified,” Phil Christian said.

The Afghani man was then shot and killed by the remaining members of his brother’s unit, he said.

from nbcnewyork.com
By Pei-Sze Cheng|Monday, May 6, 2013|Updated 4:50 PM EDT


Staff Sgt. Eric D. Christian of Warwick, N.Y. was one of two U.S. Marines killed in the Farah province of Afghanistan on Saturday, May 4, the Department of Defense said.

Christian, who grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Ramsey High School, was shot and killed in a "green on blue" attack, his brother Phillip told NBC 4 New York. It marks the second time in less than a year a soldier from the tri-state area was killed by an Afghani soldier whom he was training.

Christian was a decorated Marine with numerous medals and serving his fifth tour with the elite Marine Special Operations Command, his brother said. He left in the beginning of March and had just purchased a home in Wilmington, N.C.

His unit was based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Christian joined the Marines around 2003. He felt compelled to serve after Sept. 11 and after his younger brother Mark was called up to Iraq, Phillip Christian said.

The second oldest of four boys, Eric Christian was a star football player while at Ramsey High, according to Phillip.

Christian was not married and had no children.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered flags on state government buildings fly at half-staff on Thursday in Christian's honor.

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Cpl. David M. Sonka, 23, of Parker, Colo., died May 4, while conducting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Dave was serving his second deployment and had just arrived in Afghanistan a few weeks prior.
His dog, MWD Flex killed too.

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Bomb attacks kills 4 in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, May 6 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and 13 wounded in bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Monday, an Interior Ministry source said.
Two people were killed and six wounded in a roadside bomb explosion near a restaurant in Doura district in southern Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

In a separate incident, at least two people were killed and seven injured when two car bombs went off in al-Husseiniyah district in the northeastern part of Baghdad.

Violence is still common in the Iraqi cities despite a dramatic decrease since its peak in 2006 and 2007 when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.

from XINHUA
2013-05-06 20:52:26

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15 Killed in Clashes Between Bangladesh Police, Islamists

Police try to detain an activist of Hifazat-e-Islam during a clash in front of the national mosque in Dhaka, May 5, 2013.
NEW DELHI — Fiery clashes between Bangladeshi security forces and Islamic hardliners demanding the implementation of anti-blasphemy laws have killed at least 15 people in and around the capital Dhaka since Sunday.
Police worked Monday to clear Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital, of any remaining protesters, a day after tens of thousands of members of the radical Islamic group Hefajat-e-Islam took to the streets.

Islamists blocked roadways and fought with police late Sunday, while shouting “God is great” and calling for the Awami League-led government to enact stronger Islamic policies.

The newly formed Hifazat-e-Islam has put forth a list of 13 demands including mandatory Islamic education for all, the segregation of men and women, and death to so-called "atheists".

Former Bangladeshi law minister and current Supreme Court senior advocate Kamal Hossein said such demands will get little support in a country that - despite being 90 percent Muslim - has remained secular since independence.

“I can honestly say that there is complete consensus in the country on non-communal democracy and not getting communalism revived again, not seeing religion mixed up with politics," Hossein said. "Pakistan is having enough difficulties with it for people to just look across [and see how they are faring]. And I have spoken to people from Pakistan and they say ‘you are so fortunate to have been able to have non-communal politics.”

Continue & Read more on VOA News

from VOA News

by Aru Pande

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6 killed, 25 injured in bomb blast in NW Pakistan

Pakistani soldiers patrol on road ahead of parliamentary elections in southern Pakistan's Hyderabad, May 6, 2013.(XINHUA/Jan Ali)
ISLAMABAD, May 6 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and 25 others injured on Monday afternoon in a bomb blast that hit a public gathering in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region of Kurram Agency, hospital sources said.

Local media gave higher figures of the casualties in the blast but there was no official confirmation reported by the media.

According to the reports, the bomb blast took place in the public gathering of a religious-political party of Jamiat Ulema-e- Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in the Makhrani area of Kurram Agency, one of Pakistan's northwestern tribal regions.

The Medial Superintendent of Agency Hospital of the area said that at least six bodies and 25 injured were shifted to the hospital.

According to a hospital official, the number of causalities could rise as many people were in critical condition.

Rescuers and security forces rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and the injured to the hospital.

At the time of the blast, hundreds of people were present to listen to their leaders contesting for the country's May 11 elections.

The bomb exploded with a big bang at the conclusion of the public gathering near the stage where two JUI-F leaders were sitting but they remained unhurt in the attack.

The nature of the blast was not confirmed yet but a higher officer said that the blast was conducted with an improvised explosive device.

No group or militant organization has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

from XINHUA
2013-05-06 19:46:30
Editor: Yang Yi

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3 insurgents blown up by own explosives in Ghazni

GHAZNI CITY/ SHARAN (PAN): Three Taliban insurgents were killed and as many others wounded when the explosive device they were planting in the Qarabagh district of southern Ghazni province went off prematurely, an official said on Monday.

Fazal Rahman Nazarwal, the Qarabagh district chief, confirmed the overnight incident to Pajhwok Afghan News. However, he gave no further details of the explosion.

But a witness, who did not want to be named, confided the strong explosion had killed five militants. Their bodies were mutilated beyond recognition, he added.

According to another report, a suicide bomber was detained by security forces before he reached his target in the Sra Rawza district of southeastern Paktika province.

Azizullah Karwan, the Afghan Local Police commander, said the bomber wore a suicide vest and wanted to attack a member of the US-backed force in his house.

from Pajhwok
By Saifullah Maftoon & Ali Mohammad Nazari May 6, 2013 - 15:36   

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In Several Joint Clearance Operations, Four Armed Taliban Killed (May 06.2013.)



Publish Date: May 06, 2013
 
Counterterrorism:
In past 24 hours, Afghan National Police conducted several joint clearance operations with the cooperation of Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces to clean some of the areas from terrorists and enemies of peace and stability of Afghanistan.
 
The operations were conducted in Nangarhar, Parwan, Baghlan, Kunduz, Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan, Maidan Wardak,Ghazni, Logar, Khost, Farah, Ghor and Helmand provinces, as a result four armed Taliban were killed, four wounded and seven other armed Taliban were arrested by Afghan National Security Forces.                                                                                     
 
Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated some amount of light and heavy round ammunitions and IEDs.

Counter Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained three suspects accused of selling alcoholic beverages and drug trafficking in the 5th and 7th Districts of Kabul-City.
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May 06., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Taliban leader and one other insurgent during an operation in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, today.

The leader is responsible for a wide range of insurgent activities in Khugyani district. He has planned and directed assassinations against government officials, conducted multiple attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces, and has facilitated the movement of money, weapons and insurgent fighters throughout the local area.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition security force killed one insurgent during an operation in search of a senior Taliban leader in Nahrin district, Baghlan province, today. The leader is the ranking Taliban military official in Nahrin district. He and his cell of insurgent fighters have conducted a campaign of assassinations in the district, collected illegal taxes from local civilians, and participated in multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He is instrumental in training and familiarizing new fighters in the area and has a history of coordinating suicide attacks with local Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorist groups. As the security force approached the leader’s suspected location, one insurgent maneuvered against the Afghan and coalition troops. After positively identifying the lethal threat, the security force fired upon the insurgent, killing him. The security force also seized a light machine gun and ammunition as a result of the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force killed one insurgent during an operation in search of an insurgent leader with ties to the Taliban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in Baghlan-e Jadid district, Baghlan province, yesterday. The leader directs improvised explosive device operations targeting senior government officials and Afghan and coalition forces in multiple districts throughout Baghlan province. He also works directly with Taliban senior leadership to disseminate information to low-level fighters and is vital in facilitating money and weapons to insurgent groups in the local area.

Afghan and coalition security forces confirmed today the arrest of a senior insurgent leader with ties to both the Taliban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan during an operation in Burkah district, Baghlan province, yesterday. The leader has operational control over a group of fighters responsible for multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He is vital in facilitating the movement of weapons, particularly rocket-propelled grenades, to insurgent fighters in the area. He and his group also collect illegal taxes from the local populace in order to fund terrorist activity.

Responding to an attack on another ANSF unit, Provincial Response Company Baghlan enabled by coalition forces responded as a quick reaction force, killed six insurgents in Baghlan E Jadad district, Baghlan province, yesterday. The joint force engaged several insurgents armed with small arms and RPGs shortly after being dispatched by the Provincial Chief of Police.

South

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban facilitator and one other insurgent during an operation in Maiwand district, Kandahar province, today. The facilitator is responsible for providing weapons and fighters to multiple insurgent groups in the local area. He has a history of distributing IEDs, grenades, machine guns, ammunition and other military supplies for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also seized two pounds of opium as a result of the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban facilitator and four other insurgents during an operation in Nawah-ye Barakzai district, Helmand province, today. The facilitator has a history of distributing IEDs to various insurgent cells throughout Helmand province. He has also participated in multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

Afghan and coalition security forces confirmed today the death of Taliban leader, Shafiq, during an operation in Shah Wali Kot district, Kandahar province, Wednesday. Shafiq, also known as Khan, was responsible for numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout Kandahar province. He and his subordinates were involved in IED operations, poppy cultivation and distribution, and the facilitation of weapons in the local area. He also instructed his insurgent cell to kidnap members of the Afghan National Security Forces when conducting operations.

Afghan and coalition security forces confirmed today the death of Taliban leader, Mazloom, during an operation in Nawah-ye Barakzai district, Helmand province, April 25. Mazloom was involved in IED operations and direct fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He was also responsible for kidnapping an Afghan National Security Force soldier, training subordinate insurgent fighters and coordinating the movement of ammunition and weapons to Taliban forces.

WEST

Provincial Response Company Farah, enabled by coalition forces, detained six insurgents and seized a cache of weapons, drugs and ammunition while conducting a high risk arrest in Pusht E Rod District, Farah Province, yesterday. The cache consisted of four RPG rockets, two pressure plates, 110 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 5.5 kg (11 pounds) of opium and .5 Kg (5 Pounds) of hashish. All evidence was collected and transferred along with the six detainees to Afghan law enforcement officials.

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May 06., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan National Security and coalition forces killed three insurgents, detained eight suspected insurgents, discovered and destroyed one weapons cache, recovered one explosives vest and found and safely cleared 23 improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, May 5.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs during operations in the Ab Band district.

Kunar province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared one IED and detained seven suspected insurgents during operations in the Sar Kani district. The suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktika province
Afghan National Security Forces killed three insurgents and found and safely cleared 14 IEDs during operations in the Bermal district.

Afghan National Security Forces detained one suspected insurgent and recovered one explosive vest during operations in the Sar Hawza district. The suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Parwan province
Afghan National Security and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs during operations in the Bagram district.

Wardak province
Afghan National Security and coalition forces discovered and destroyed one weapons cache containing more than 1,200 pounds of homemade explosives during operations in the Nerkh district.

Afghan National Security and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs during operations in the Mayden Shahr district.

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared two IEDs during operations in the Sayyidabad district.

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