OEF Summary, April 25, 2009: Troops Detain 3 in Khowst

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan , April 25, 2009 -- Afghan national security forces and coalition forces detained three men overnight April 24 in eastern Afghanistan during an operation to capture a militant associated with the Haqqani Network and the Baitullah Mahsud Group in Pakistan.

In Khowst province, approximately six kilometers west of Khost City, the combined force conducted a vehicle stop to capture a terrorist known to facilitate suicide attacks against Afghan citizens and coalition forces in Khowst and Paktia provinces.

As the targeted individual's vehicle approached an intersection, Afghan forces signaled the vehicle to stop and successfully called for the passengers to exit the vehicle. Without incident, all occupants complied. The targeted individual and two men traveling with him were detained. Afghan national police were called to assist a woman and child who were passengers in the car, ensuring they safely arrived at their destination.

In other operations, Afghan national security forces and coalition forces killed 14 insurgents in a battle lasting six hours in Sangin District, Helmand province April 23.

The combined elements were conducting a combat reconnaissance patrol in a known area of heavy insurgent presence when they were attacked by armed insurgents with small arms fire from multiple locations. After ensuring there were no non-combatants in the area, ANSF and coalition forces positively identified an enemy position and called in for close-air support, resulting in six insurgents killed.

The patrol then began to receive rocket propelled grenade and small arms fire from another enemy position. ANSF and coalition forces engaged the insurgents with small arms fire and called for close air support on the enemy fighting position killing eight more insurgents.

One wounded insurgent, equipped with an RPG launcher, surrendered to the Afghan-led force and was evacuated to a coalition medical facility for treatment. Two other insurgents were detained in the operation.

No ANSF, coalition forces or civilian injuries were reported as a result of the engagement.

(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)

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