OEF Update, Oct. 23, 2009: Forces in Afghanistan Kill, Detain Militants; ISAF Casualty

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 23, 2009 -- An Afghan and international joint security force killed a couple of suspected enemy militants and wounded one on Oct. 22, after forcefully entering and searching a series of compounds in Wardak province.

The compounds were known to be used by a Taliban commander and his group believed to be responsible for several attacks in the area.

During the operation the joint security force initially searched a building in Chaki Wardak district without incident. After observing enemy activity in another compound in the vicinity, the force pursued different suspected militants.

While moving to the new compound, the joint force received hostile fire and returned fire, killing an enemy militant armed with an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, fragmentation grenades and communications gear.

The joint force then received additional hostile fire. Returning fire the joint force killed another enemy militant and wounded an enemy militant who was then given medical aid by the force. A search of enemy positions yielded multiple AK-47 rifles and grenades.

In a separate Wardak province operation, a joint security force detained several suspected militants after searching a series of buildings in Saydabad district known to be used by a senior Taliban commander believed to maintain numerous contacts with Taliban and Haqqani leaders in the area.

The search was conducted without incident or injury, and no shots were fired.

In a third operation, a joint security force killed several enemy militants and detained half a dozen suspected militants during a compound search in Helmand province, today.

The compound is known to be used by senior Taliban commanders responsible for several attacks and other militant activities in the area.

The joint security force searched the compound near the village of Nangazi, northeast of Lashkar Gah district, after intelligence reports indicated militant activity. As the force approached the compound they received hostile fire. Returning fire they killed several enemy militants and then detained other suspected militants.

No Afghan civilians were harmed during any of these operations.

ISAF Casualty

An ISAF servicemember died of wounds sustained in an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan, Oct. 22.

(Compiled from NATO International Security Assistance Force news releases.)