KABUL, Afghanistan — A coalition forces precision strike destroyed an anti-aircraft weapons system in the Nad Ali district, Helmand province, in the early morning hours April 21.
Coalition forces learned through villagers that militants in the area had obtained a ZPU-1 anti-aircraft gun and were staging it on the back of a pick-up truck for use against friendly forces' helicopters.
Coalition forces located the ZPU-1, which was loaded and ready for use. After ensuring there were no non-combatants in the area, the coalition forces destroyed the weapons system with a precision strike.
In recent months, militants in the area have unsuccessfully attempted to use surface-to-air fire against coalition aircraft.
No coalition force or non-combatant casualties were reported as a result of the precision strike.
"The destruction of this anti-aircraft weapon without a doubt saved the lives of Afghan and coalition forces," said a coalition forces spokesman.