OEF Summary, Nov. 18, 2009: Forces in Afghanistan Kill Militants, Detain Suspects

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Nov. 18, 2009 -- Afghan and international forces killed several enemy militants and detained numerous terrorism suspects in Afghanistan today, military officials reported.

A combined Afghan-international force detained a group of suspected militants in Zabul province while pursuing a Taliban commander responsible for several attacks in the area.

The force searched buildings on the west side of Qalat City where intelligence indicated militant activity and detained the suspected militants without incident.

In a separate operation, a combined force killed several enemy militants in Khost province, including a Haqqani terrorist involved with attacks in the area.

The force targeted a compound in the Sabari district where intelligence sources reported the suspect to be located. While clearing one of the buildings, combined force members shot and killed enemy militants who aimed their weapons at them. Occupants of the compound confirmed the identity of one of the dead militants as the Haqqani suspect.

In Helmand province, a combined force killed several enemy militants and detained a group of suspected militants while searching for a Taliban commander responsible for assassinations and other attacks in the area.

The force targeted a series of buildings on the west side of Marjeh where intelligence indicated militant activity. The force searched the buildings and detained the suspected militants without incident.

While departing from the targeted area, however, force members saw militants getting in position to engage them from a nearby wood line. The force called for precision air strikes, which killed multiple enemy militants.

No civilians were harmed in any of these operations, officials said.

(From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news release.)