ANSF liberate citizens from insurgent terror in Yakhdan

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

01.02.2008

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan national security forces liberated the village of Yakhdan, in Shahidi Hasas District, Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, from insurgent control, Dec. 31.

Intelligence reports indicate the Shahidi Hasas District serves as a major corridor for the transportation of fighters and weapons between the provinces to the north and south of Oruzgan. Yakhdan village is a major transit point along the route. Insurgents are suspected of using the area as a major command and control hub for illegal activities.

Afghan national army soldiers from the 205th Kandak planned and led the multi-day operation, along with Afghan national police and coalition forces, to disrupt major enemy supply lines in Oruzgan province, to prevent their freedom of movement and to ultimately disrupt their operations in this area.

While conducting a security patrol on the outskirts of the village, insurgents attacked coalition forces with a variety of weapons from reinforced fighting positions in the hills overlooking the village. The ANSF-led force immediately returned fire while insurgents ran to defensive positions in the Yakhdan Bazaar.

Before entering the village, which sits along the banks of the Sakar River, women and children were observed leaving as ANSF identified enemy safe houses and fighting positions. Additionally, three insurgents, dressed in women's clothes and wearing burkas, were seen carrying weapons out of the village.

"This is a common tactic used by the insurgents," said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force-82 spokesman. "The enemy knows that coalition forces will not engage women and children."

Upon entering the bazaar area, insurgents opened fire from multiple directions. As the battle escalated, ANSF responded with direct and indirect fire, then requested air support, which dropped precision guided munitions, to eliminate the insurgent fighting positions. Secondary explosions were observed indicating an enemy weapons cache was also destroyed.

ANSF and coalition forces were previously attacked during a security patrol near the villages of Pasaw and Dosang, Shahidi Hasas District, Dec. 23. During that attack, insurgents ran from their fighting positions into the villages. The ANSF-led force took care to ensure no civilians were harmed while engaging the attackers.

"ANSF will continue to provide security and conduct operations throughout the winter," Belcher said. "With fighters removed from Yakhdan, villagers can return to their valley homes while ANSF drive insurgents from Oruzgan."

• Date Taken: 01.02.2008
• Date Posted: 01.02.2008 08:30
• Story ID: 15120
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF