Coalition
Troops Support Afghan
Forces in Arrests, Operations
(AFPS)
Coalition and Afghan forces arrested four people during
an operation targeting a known terrorist safe house,
military officials reported.
The combined
force arrested four military-age men with suspected ties to
extremist groups believed to be involved in facilitating
the movement of anti-government
fighters. Official said some were discovered with large amounts of ammunition
and currency.
Afghan forces,
escorted by the local imam, questioned some men who had recently
arrived from Pakistan and were staying in the local mosque.
Coalition forces remained outside the mosque during the operation.
No shots
were fired during the operation, military officials said, and
no damage or injuries were reported by civilians or by the
combined force.
In other
news from Afghanistan, Afghan forces, supported by coalition
troops, recovered high-powered sniper rifles and killed at
least two terrorists during an operation March 12. The operation
targeted a known Taliban weapons facilitator, officials said.
The terrorist
suspects fired at the combined force from within the compound,
where the sniper rifles were found.
The buildings
were destroyed when the terrorists continued engaging the Afghan
and coalition forces.
Credible
information led the combined force to the compound in connection
with the weapons trafficker, who has been linked to the movement
of anti-aircraft weapons in southern Afghanistan, officials
said.
Officials
added that the area has seen numerous direct and indirect fire
attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in recent weeks.
Two Afghan
soldiers and a coalition soldier were injured during the assault.
The three suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials
said. No civilian casualties were reported.
Officials
also announced that Combined Joint Task Force 76 has been officially
redesignated as Combined Joint Task Force 82. This redesignation
reflects changes in command relationships resulting from the
transfer of Afghanistan operations to NATO’s International
Security and Assistance Force and the inactivation of Combined
Forces Command Afghanistan.
(Source:
CJTF-82)