Operational Update, Nov. 8: International Security Force Interdicts Taliban Militants in Kandahar; ISAF Casualties

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

Date: 11.08.2009

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan-international security force killed several enemy militants and detained a group of suspected militants in Kandahar province while pursuing a Taliban facilitator Saturday.

The Taliban facilitator is responsible for targeting Afghan civilians and distributing IEDs and suicide bombers to other militant elements in the area.

The joint security force convoy was in transit when enemy militants attempted to disrupt it with an IED strike. The joint force immediately located the enemy position and returned fire, killing the enemy militants. A security element of the joint force pursued and detained the group of suspected militants who were seen leaving the enemy’s location. The main body of the joint force searched the enemy position and recovered IED materials, an AK-47 rifle, chest racks and AK-47 magazines. No civilians were harmed during this operation.

Afghan and international security forces are actively countering the Taliban’s increased use of IEDs in Afghanistan by increased surveillance of highways, immediate pursuit of IED operators, and a constant drive to disrupt IED facilitation.

ISAF Casualties

Two ISAF service members died in Afghanistan yesterday.

One U.S. service member was killed in an insurgent attack in western Afghanistan. This event was not related to the ongoing search operation for two missing U.S. Army soldiers.

One additional service member was killed by an IED in southern Afghanistan. It is ISAF policy to defer identification procedures of casualties to the relevant national authorities.