Article by U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs

Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, joined Marine Corps KC-130 aircraft March 5 in airlifting displaced Egyptian citizens here from Djerba, Tunisia.

More than 300 passengers traveled on four flights.

The aircraft and teams conducted the humanitarian shuttles in support of President Barack Obama's call to assist the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development in assisting those fleeing the ongoing conflict in neighboring Libya. The Egyptian government officials asked the U.S. for help in returning evacuees from Tunisia.

Afghan National Security and International Security Assistance Forces captured three Haqqani network facilitators and detained several suspected insurgents during separate operations in Khost province, yesterday.

In Sabari district, separate combined patrols captured two Haqqani network facilitators and detained several suspected insurgents. One facilitator distributed weapons and materials to Haqqini networks while the other acquired weapons and finances to assist the organization in operations targeting Afghan and coalition forces.

Tortured mountains and skeletal vehicles litter the pock-marked Jalalabad-Kabul highway as it snakes its way along the Kabul Gorge between the Hindu Kush Mountains.

As the last leg of the famed Grand Trunk Highway, it is an essential route for caravans heading into Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul.

Late Feb. 28, it was an essential route for Soldiers from Forward Support Company G, 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Balls, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, escorting a convoy through the shadow of the mountains.

Members of an Air Force weather team set up a new tactical weather radar and tactical meteorological observation system for the Iraqi air force at Qayyarah West Airfield, Iraq, March 2.

The job, which took about four hours, is part of an ongoing process to set up a stable weather program for the Iraqi air force and provides an expanded weather capability for the program as a whole.

While installing the equipment, members of the team also did some impromptu training to help familiarize the Iraqis with the systems.

Afghan and coalition forces killed four armed insurgents, including a Haqqani terrorist network leader, in Afghanistan's Khost province yesterday, military officials reported.

The terrorist leader is linked to several recent bombing attacks on local security forces. He was shot and killed in Khost's Nadir Shah Kot district after he brandished an assault rifle at the troops.

Forces engaged and killed three other insurgents in self defense, too, after the insurgents acted in a threatening manner toward the troops. Forces also detained 10 suspected insurgents in the operation.

Forward arming and refueling points for Task Force Thunder, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, are places where aircraft can receive fuel and ammunition to continue providing coverage for troops on the ground.

With only three people working in a building no larger than most apartments in the states, the Iraqi medical clinic on Ali Air Base is constantly operating at maximum capacity to provide care for more than 700 Iraqi airmen.

“Healthy airmen are essential for the Iraqi Air Force to successfully complete its missions and secure this region,” said Maj. Mechille Braden, base transition team officer in charge. “The clinic cannot properly support the medical needs of the Iraqi airmen here. Our team is working tirelessly to help improve their facility.”

International Security Assistance Force confirmed today, a Taliban leader was detained during an Afghan and coalition operation in Kandahar province, March 2.

The leader was responsible for coordinating weapons acquisition and distribution for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

In other ISAF news throughout Afghanistan:

South

Afghan and coalition forces detained two Taliban assassination cell members during an operation in Kandahar District, Kandahar province, yesterday.