OEF Summary, May 2, 2009: Forces Kill 5 Militants in Helmand

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 2, 2009 -- Afghan national army and coalition forces killed five militants in Nahr Surkh District, Helmand province, Friday.

The Afghan-led force was conducting a routine combat reconnaissance patrol when armed militants attacked from several compounds with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

Afghan and coalition forces pursued the militants. Ensuring there were no non-combatants in the area, they returned fire with small-arms and heavy weapons, killing five militants.

An element of the ANA dismounted, secured the area and conducted a search of the compound. Multiple weapons were recovered from the site and destroyed.

"The ANA removed the militant threat from the area while keeping the civilians out of the fight," said a coalition forces spokesperson. "We will continue to support the ANA as they fight to bring stability to the region."

No Afghan, coalition forces or civilian casualties were reported.

(Report compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)

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