5 Aug 2009
Kabul, Afghanistan - An Afghan-international security force assaulted a militant stronghold in the remote mountains of Khowst Province Aug. 4 in pursuit of a Haqqani commander responsible for facilitating foreign fighters, weapons, IEDs, and other explosive materials in the region.
The joint force targeted a location on the west side of the province after intelligence confirmed subversive activity. The security force was engaged by enemy small arms fire, heavy machine gun fire, RPG fire, and an SVIED during the operation. The security force used direct fire and close air support to defeat the militant attacks.
As the enemy maneuvered from its mountaintop positions, the security force cleared an array of bunkers, tents and lean-to structures that indicated an active training site. The security force killed 18 militants and recovered the following items from the targeted location: IED and explosive materials, one RPG launcher and multiple RPG rounds, one DSHKA machine gun, one recoilless rifle, one PKM machine gun, several AK-47 rifles, more than 40 military chest racks with fragmentation grenades, and communications gear. The weapons, ammunition, communications gear, and enemy training site were destroyed in place.
The operation dealt a severe blow to Haqqani operations in Khowst Province. Afghan and international forces remain steadfast in their pursuit to disrupt all Haqqani operations and to interdict Haqqani leadership in Afghanistan.
There were no Afghan, international security forces or civilian casualties as a result of the operation.
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