KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan and coalition forces killed six militants in a firefight in Paktika province overnight, June 1, during a deliberate operation to capture a Taliban commander operating in the northern region of the province.
In Mata Khan District, Paktika province, approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Ghazni, forces identified a vehicle carrying the wanted Taliban commander and other suspected militants at a remote location near Abd Ol Kala village.
When the combined force approached the militants' location, the armed combatants immediately began firing on the force from a grove of trees. Forces returned fire and called for close air support to suppress the enemy attack, ending the engagement in less than an hour. All six enemy combatants were killed in the fight.
No Afghan or coalition forces sustained any significant injuries.
When hostilities ended, Afghan and coalition forces found multiple rocket-propelled grenade launchers, RPG rounds, AK-47 assault rifles and chest racks, removing all to prevent their use against citizens, Afghan security forces and coalition forces.