Troops in Afghanistan Kill Enemy Fighters, Disarm Bombs

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2008 -- Coalition and Afghan national security forces killed an unknown number of enemy fighters and neutralized homemade bombs in Afghanistan over the past two days, military officials said.

Combined forces killed several extremists during an operation today in Helmand province.

While patrolling near the Sangin district center, troops received fire from militants. The combined ground force responded with small-arms fire and called in precision air strikes, killing the enemy fighters.

Troops also destroyed a cache of mortar rounds during the operation.

In Farah province yesterday, coalition forces killed several extremists with small-arms fire and precision air strikes.

In the midst of responding to an allied unit under attack, coalition forces received machine gun, mortar, and rocket-propelled-grenade fire from a nearby compound. During successive engagements, troops used precision aircraft strikes on confirmed enemy locations, killing an unknown number of militants.

Immediately following the operation, coalition and Afghan National Army leaders met with village elders to explain the situation and reassure the local civilians of their safety.

No civilians or coalition forces were harmed in the engagement.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan yesterday, a villager in Helmand province discovered several homemade bombs near his home and turned them over to local Afghan forces. Afghan national security forces disarmed the explosives.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 101 news releases.)

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