45th IBCT makes last dent against insurgent forces

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

02.23.2012

Story by Spc. Shanna Harrison 

45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, nearing the end of their deployment, did not slow down from taking the fight to the enemy. The 45th IBCT spotted multiple insurgents placing an improvised explosive device just south of Mehtar Lam City at the intersection of Highway 7 and the Mehtar Lam Highway on the night of Feb. 23.

The insurgents were observed carrying multiple weapons and digging and placing an IED under the cover of darkness. They also had an element of insurgent overwatch in a linear ambush position.

After the IED placement, insurgents began to move south toward the Tor Ghar Mountain Range, where they were engaged by coalition forces.

The scout weapons team and air weapons team engaged the insurgents until close air support arrived, effectively destroying 21 enemy insurgents.

A battle damage assessment conducted the following morning by the 127th Military Police Company and the 2nd Kandak, 1st Brigade, 201st Corps, Afghan National Army, found the insurgents had a variety of weapons including homemade explosives, a mortar, mines, an rocket-propelled grenade, machine guns, an AK-47, a grenade, a pistol, and multiple packs of ammo.

An explosive ordnance disposal team disarmed the IED with no complications.

Provincial Gov. Mohammad Iqbal Azizi invited local media to the site to conduct a press conference to show this event as a positive victory for the people of Afghanistan.

“These are the enemy of Afghanistan who seek to undermine the Islamic Government of Afghanistan, not coalition forces,” Azizi said.

• Date Taken: 02.23.2012
• Date Posted: 02.27.2012 23:27
• Story ID: 84414
• Location: LAGHMAN PROVINCE, AF