ANSF, ISAF Defeat Another Haqqani Attack

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

08.29.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL - Afghan and Coalition forces killed more than 30 Haqqani Network insurgents, including 13 wearing suicide vests as they attempted to storm Forward Operating Bases Salerno and Chapman and government buildings in Khost Saturday morning. Mudasir, a Haqqani suicide bomber and improvised explosive device facilitator, was killed as he attempted to flee as the attack was smashed by ANSF and ISAF forces.

Overnight ANSF and ISAF forces capitalized on intelligence tips to capture a commander involved in planning the attacks. Yesterday's attack was the latest of several insurgent attempts to conduct spectacular attacks in the last several months. All of the attempts, including attacks in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Bagram and Kabul failed to achieve any significant operational effect.

"The insurgents' attempts to attack ISAF or Afghan government facilities were defeated again," said Brig. Gen. Josef Blotz, ISAF spokesman. "The insurgent leadership who direct these ill-conceived attacks far from the actual battlefield knows their low-level fighters have no chance of success against these targets."

Since May 2010, there have been five failed insurgent attacks on ISAF or Afghan government targets garnering significant attention resulting in dozens of insurgents captured or killed. Additionally, the insurgents attempted and failed to disrupt President Karzai's Peace Jirga and the Kabul Conference, causing the death, injury or capture of their own fighters. Previous attacks on ISAF bases in Bagram, Kandahar, and Jalalabad all met with similar results as ISAF and ANSF service members repulsed the insurgents.

The May 18 attack on Bagram, the May 22nd attack on Kandahar, and the June 30 attack of FOB Fenty near Jalalabad resulted in over 30 insurgents being captured or killed. None of the attacks breached the defense barriers of the bases.

"The only thing these attacks prove is the lack of regard for the lives of low-level fighters by their insurgent leaders," said Blotz. "Lower level insurgents would do well to take advantage of President Karzai's offer to enable them to lay down their arms and reintegrate into Afghan society with honor."

• Date Taken: 08.29.2010
• Date Posted: 08.29.2010 07:39
• Story ID: 55335
• Location: KABUL, AF