Afghan and US SOF attack ISIS-K in northern Afghanistan

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Sean Carnes | Afghan Special Operations soldiers destroy a Taliban weapons cache during a night operation in Ney Meydan, Sar-e Pul province, Afghanistan, Feb. 23, 2018. Afghan Special Security Forces maintained constant pressure on the Taliban and ISIS-K throughout the winter in the northern Afghan provinces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sean Carnes)  

AFGHANISTAN

03.22.2018

Story by Capt. Scott Newman 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

Afghan Special Security Forces and U.S. Special Operators eliminated four ISIS-K fighters during a partnered nighttime raid in the isolated village of Mughul, Darzab district, Jowzjan province, Afghanistan, Mar. 22, 2018. This tactical defeat of ISIS-K fighters in Jowzjan is the most recent in a series of Afghan and U.S. SOF counterterrorism successes targeting ISIS-K northern Afghanistan this year.

On Jan. 28. Afghan forces captured Khitab Aka, ISIS-K's head facilitator of foreign fighters in Jowzjan.

Less than two months later, on Mar. 16, a U.S. airstrike killed Aka's replacements, ISIS-K Khitaba (platoon-sized) commanders Omair and Abu Samaya as the duo met in Sar-e Pul province.

Later that evening, an ASSF nighttime raid on the ISIS-K headquarters in Jowzjan resulted in the removal of another 13 terrorists.

Despised by the overwhelming majority of Afghans and ineffective in recruiting from the Afghan population, ISIS-K relies on exploiting tribal rivalries for short-term allegiance and external support for fighters, equipment and financing. More than 140 ISIS-K aligned fighters have been killed in remote regions Jowzjan, Kunar, and Nangarhar provinces this year.

• Date Taken: 03.22.2018
• Date Posted: 03.22.2018 03:57
• Story ID: 270186
• Location: AF