OEF Update, Nov. 5, 2009: Forces in Afghanistan Kill, Detain Taliban Militants in Wardak, Khost; US Casualty

Dispatches from the Front:

Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 5, 2009 -- An Afghan-international security force killed several enemy militants and detained a group of suspected militants in Wardak province while pursuing a Taliban facilitator linked to local senior Taliban leadership and responsible for managing the supply of IED components into the area Wednesday.

The joint security force targeted a compound near the village of Babur Kheyl in Sayed Abad district after intelligence indicated militant activity. After entering the compound, the joint force received hostile fire and returned fire, killing the enemy militants. The patrol searched the compound and detained a group of suspected militants. No civilians were harmed during this operation.

The Taliban’s intentional attacks at bazaars, mosques, and schools within Afghanistan are publicly documented. According to current United Nations data, Taliban IEDs and other bomb attacks are the main cause of Afghan civilian casualties. Afghan and international security forces constantly partner personnel and resources to prevent these attacks and eliminate the Taliban threat by constant pursuit and the promotion of reconciliation.

In another operation, an Afghan-international security force killed an enemy militant and detained a suspected militant in Khowst province while in pursuing a Haqqani facilitator responsible for the supply of foreign fighters into the area.

After receiving credible intelligence data, the joint security force searched compounds near the village of Baran Kheyl in the Manduzai district. The operation resulted in one enemy militant killed and one suspected militant detained. No civilians were harmed during the operation.

The Haqqani Network uses a generations-old system of routes in eastern Afghanistan to conduct attacks, gain strongholds and arm other militant elements within the country. Afghan and international security forces are working together to block these routes and eliminate the Haqqani threat by constant pursuit and the promotion of reconciliation.

ISAF Casualties:

An International Security Assistance Force service member was killed when insurgents attacked an ISAF patrol in eastern Afghanistan Wednesday afternoon. The servicemember was from the United States.

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