THE TENSION: Forces Kill Enemy Fighters in Khowst Province, Afghanistan

Dispatches from the Front:

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, March 19, 2008 (AFPS) -- A coalition military operation in Afghanistan’s Khowst province today resulted in several enemy fighters being killed, but also claimed the lives of two innocent civilians, military officials here reported.

Fighting erupted when coalition forces were searching compounds in the Nadar Shahkot district, targeting a militant named Bismullah, who is known for conducting improvised-explosive-device attacks and weapons facilitation operations.

“Several armed militants, two of whom were barricaded in a building, opened fire on coalition forces after they entered the compound,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a coalition forces spokesman. “Coalition forces returned fire, killing Bismullah, his brother Rahim Jan, as well as several other armed militants.”

Rahim Jan is believed to have conducted IED attacks and weapons facilitation operations along with Bismullah, Belcher added.

After the battle, coalition forces found a dead woman in a building from which one of the barricaded militants had fired on them. They found a dead child in another building where another barricaded militant was killed.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends and loved ones of the deceased woman and child,” Belcher said. “Coalition forces take every possible precaution to ensure the safety of noncombatants during the conduct of operations. It is regrettable that militants continue to place innocent lives at risk simply to further their own agendas.”

Coalition forces found and detained two men with suspected ties to IED and weapons facilitation operations while continuing their search.

(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)