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Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), attached to the 8th Commando Kandak, killed seven enemy fighters during a clearance operation in the villages of Butaw and Band Kalay, Khak-e Afghan district, June 21-22.

The Commandos partnered with coalition forces to eradicate enemy activity in the region, providing a safe environment for Afghan civilians to live and work.

The Khak-e Afghan district was known as an enemy safe-haven for conducting criminal activity and staging attacks, said a coalition representative. They attempted to stand against the Afghan patrol but were quickly destroyed.

Prior to the operation, district residents had not interacted with Afghan or coalition representatives for nearly a year

“The operation was a fire-fight from the beginning,” said a coalition member. “Khak-e Afghan had been an area the insurgents used for planning and staging attacks against ANSF and coaliton forces in Sha Joy and Daychopan districts.”

In addition to killing several enemy, the patrol also destroyed a taliban training facility, said the coaliton member. The training site included material detailing the construction of improvised explosive devices and suicide vests.

The coalition member added that the patrol also discovered and dismantled an insurgent communication center.

The Afghan forces effectively drove the taliban out of the area and disrupted their freedom of movement, said the coalition member. The operation reduced the taliban’s influence in the Khak-e Afghan region and relieved pressure on nearby Afghan villages.

Article by Chief Petty Officer Bill Mesta, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan