International Security Assistance Force killed several insurgents during an operation in Darah-ye Pech District, Kunar province, today.

Coalition forces observed several insurgents moving tactically and carrying heavy automatic weapons. After establishing positive identification, coalition forces engaged the enemy position, killing several insurgents. There were no damages or civilian casualties reported as result of this operation.

In other ISAF news throughout Afghanistan:

North

Coalition forces killed five insurgents after they observed an imminent threat from armed individuals at a historic insurgent fighting position in Ghazi Abad District, Kunar province.

AK-47 rifles, Squad Automatic Weapons, Steyr AUG models, M-4 carbines and even the Singaporean SAR 21s were up for test fire during a weapons familiarization range Mar. 11, at Multi-National Base Tarin Kot, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.

Combined Team Uruzgan sent an open invitation to all nations of Multi-National Base Tarin Kot to receive instruction on and shoot different small arms weapons from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States.

Call To Action – On February 28th, Congressman Peter King of New York introduced H.Res 111 in the 112th Congress. The resolution calls for the formation in the House of Representatives of a Select Committee “to investigate all unresolved matters relating to any United States personnel unaccounted for from the Vietnam era, the Korean conflict, World War II, Cold War Missions, Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Enduring Freedom, including MIAs and POWs missing and captured.

Members of the counter-improvised explosive device task force located at Forward Operating Base Kharn Nikah completed a successful controlled detonation of an IED turned in by local villagers, March 2.

Villagers in the area bring IEDs to the forward operating bases and outposts often, hoping to help rid the area of the dangerous devices.

“The locals around here are quite helpful,” said Lt. Andy Brett, a member of the CIED team, Task Force Helmand. “They want to get rid of the IEDs as much as we do to increase their freedom of movement.”

International Security Assistance Forces conducted a precision air strike targeting two Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leaders in Dara Soof Payan District, Samangan province, yesterday.

A senior IMU leader and liaison to the Taliban network in Kunduz, Bilal Konduzi was involved in the facilitation and planning of suicide operations throughout northern Afghanistan, and maintained contact with other senior IMU leaders, for the purpose of coordinating logistics and personnel in northern Afghanistan.

An order came over the radio and soldiers fell silent in anticipation. As they scrambled into position, the radio telephone operator shouted out coordinates. Six soldiers worked together to position the gun and load it with an XM982 precision guided 155 mm artillery round, better known as ‘Excalibur.’

They waited for the command “Prepare to fire … fire.”

The percussion from the blasts resonated in the chests of on-lookers and the sound was heard despite their hearing protection.

Iraqi Police officers received a crash course on crime scene investigation as part of the 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division's ongoing mission to enable the Government of Iraq and provide the Iraqi citizens with a safer, more secure, and sovereign country.

Spc. Jonathan Lainez and Spc. Derek Jackson, both infantrymen and trained members of one of the Vanguard Brigade's Special Weapons Exploitation Teams, taught eight police officers evidence collection during a three-day class, beginning Feb. 28, at the Ramadi Training Center, Iraq.

Afghan National Security and International Security Forces captured a Taliban leader, killed one armed individual and detained several suspected insurgents during security operations in Kandahar City, Kandahar province, yesterday.

The leader was responsible for the distribution of vehicle borne improvised explosive devices to fighters throughout Kandahar City. He also coordinated the receipt of weapons and materials from associates outside of Afghanistan, and distributed them to various Taliban members in the province.