Two insurgents detained, four caches found and 300 lbs of HME confiscated

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

01.09.2012

Story by Sgt. Melissa Stewart 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces partnered with soldiers in A Battery, 4th Battalion, 25th Artillery Regiment to disrupt enemy operations and deny staging areas for enemy actions in the village of Shahi Kariz.

While on a joint clearance operation and reconnaissance mission through Shahi Kariz the soldiers began to receive intelligence regarding insurgents staging an attack on the patrol. A short while later, the soldiers heard an explosion to the west of their location.
Upon arriving at the blast site, they found a small crater with a trail of blood leading away from the scene.

ANSF and 4-25 Artillery soldiers followed the blood trail and were assisted by a local village boy who informed them that the explosion had killed one insurgent and injured another. He informed the soldiers that the insurgent was taken to Sherali Kariz on the back of a motorcycle.

While the patrol moved to the alleged location of the injured insurgents, ANSF intercepted a fast-moving vehicle and conducted a search, only to discover handheld radio transmitter. ANSF continued their search of the vehicle and found a 107 mm Katyusha rocket, approximately 300 pounds of homemade explosives hidden in bags, and 220 blasting caps, also hidden in a bag.

Among the hidden items soldiers also found names and numbers of what are believed to be other insurgents.

After the explosion, some soldiers were tasked to clear the area surrounding the blast sight. While they were clearing, they discovered four cache sites with various improvised explosive device materials. Explosive ordnance disposal destroyed all confiscated IED materials in place.

The two Afghan men driving the car were detained and taken to Combat Outpost Azimjan Kariz.

• Date Taken: 01.09.2012
• Date Posted: 01.09.2012 00:28
• Story ID: 82172
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF