Afghan, coalition forces target insurgents who attacked joint patrol

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

01.04.2011

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces killed two armed insurgents who attacked a joint security force patrol in Andar district yesterday during a security operation in the Ghazni province.

The security force received intelligence tips that the two armed insurgents were hiding in a district mosque to avoid capture. Earlier in the day the two armed insurgents were observed planting an improvised explosive device before conducting an attack on a joint security force that was on patrol in the district.

The security force located the armed insurgents hiding in the mosque. After numerous attempts by Afghan forces to call the armed insurgents out of the mosque, the Afghan force escalated their call out procedures before entering the building, resulting in the two armed insurgents being killed. The security force recovered two AK-47's, a pistol, multiple improvised explosive devices, anti-personnel mines and ammunition.

Security forces have seen over the past month that insurgents are attempting to take sanctuary in religious and cultural building such as mosques. Security forces in Paktiya province have detained several targeted insurgents and suspected insurgents hiding in Gardez area mosques during a three-week period of December.

“Afghan and coalition forces will not allow insurgents to take shelter in places of worship, especially after they attacked a joint security force patrol,” said Lt. Col. Patrick Hynes, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. “The Afghan force took every precaution to respect the sanctity of the mosque and its contents, unlike these insurgents who mean harm not only to Afghan and coalition forces, but to the Afghan populace.”

• Date Taken: 01.04.2011
• Date Posted: 01.04.2011 03:20
• Story ID: 62972
• Location: KABUL, AF