KABUL, Afghanistan - Coalition forces conducted precision strikes on known homemade explosives factories and followed with a joint-force deliberate clearing operation aimed at disrupting the Taliban's freedom of movement in Kandahar province Wednesday.
The joint security force targeted several compounds in and around the village of Khusrawe Ulya in Arghandab District. The security force conducted several precision strikes on known enemy HME factories before the ground force entered the targeted area.
At a series of compounds, Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully and then the combined force cleared and secured the compounds. The security force detained two suspected insurgents throughout the operation.
During the clearance, the security force discovered one of the target compounds was rigged as a large house-borne improvised explosive device. After the ground force departed, coalition forces conducted a precision airstrike, destroying the compound and explosives, ensuring it could not harm any civilians.
The security force protected the women and children for the duration of the search.