KABUL, Afghanistan – Numerous insurgents were killed by International Security Assistance Force during separate clearing operations in southern and eastern Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, Jan. 25.
In Helmand province, during separate operations, two ISAF patrols were engaged by insurgents with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades in Musa Qal’ah district. After gaining positive identification, coalition forces returned fire and called for air support. The air weapons team supporting ground forces engaged the enemy position, killing several insurgents.
An ISAF patrol spotted two armed insurgents moving towards a historical fighting location in Zharay district, Kandahar province. After establishing positive identification, coalition forces engaged and killed the insurgents.
Also, Jan. 25, in Kunar province an ISAF patrol came under fire from several insurgents in Nurgal district. Coalition forces gained positive identification and returned accurate mortar fire on the enemy position, killing the insurgents and dispersing the others.
Afghan National Security Forces and ISAF also discovered several caches in southern Afghanistan.
In Helmand, Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces, Afghan Security forces and ISAF patrols found three weapons, improvised explosive device-making components and chemicals caches in Marjah, Arghandab and Tarin Kot districts. The caches consisted of three AK-47s, one RPG, one 82 mm round, one 20 mm recoilless rifle round, one anti-personnel mine, two hand grenades. The IED-making components and chemicals consisted of 20 jugs of ammonium nitrate and explosives.
Initial reports indicate no civilians were injured and no damage was reported during the clearing operations. The weapons, IED making components and chemicals from all the provinces were confiscated and will be destroyed.