KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan-led forces under the guidance of Afghan border police commander Brig. Gen. Abdul Raziq Achekzai killed more than 20 insurgents during a clearing operation Thursday - Saturday in the Zangabad villages of the Panjwa'i district of Kandahar province.
The operation also netted five improvised explosive devices, reduced three house-borne IEDs and destroyed multiple enemy tunnel and bunker systems.
Also involved in the operation was 2nd Battalion, 1st Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade, Afghan National Police and members of Special Operations Task Force - South.
"This operation allowed coalition forces to gain a foot hold into an insurgent stronghold and safe haven that had previously been unattainable in the past three years," said Lt. Col. Mike Sullivan, operations officer, SOTF-South. "Insurgents have had freedom of movement in this area and have used it as a staging area to plan and prepare for attacks in and around the greater Kandahar City area."