Soldiers with Company C, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division-Center, worked with Iraqi Army 9th Armored Division soldiers during M1A1 Abrams tank drivers training Jan. 15-16, at Camp Taji, Iraq.

"We focus on driving M1A1s to drive Iraq forward into the future and for the betterment of the people of Iraq," said Iraq Army Jundi Anwar Hakim Khidher Al-Janabi, a tank commander with the 9th Armored Division, out of Camp Taji.

Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban leader along with one suspected insurgent during a security operation in Jalalabad City, Nangarhar province yesterday.

The Taliban leader operated in Sherzad district where he conducted surveillance and coordinated attacks against Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials and coalition forces. Recent reporting indicates he acquired two suicide vests for a Taliban associate in order to conduct future attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

Nearly one year ago, Marjah was the scene of some of the deadliest fighting since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom. Now, after the persistence of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, the area is lauded as proof that counterinsurgency operations can work.

Gen. James Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps, visited 2/9 in December and compared the battalion’s success to the victories in Fallujah and Ramadi.

“You have snow-plowed the enemy out of the northern part of Marjah!” said Amos, quoting Maj.Gen. Richard Mills, the commanding general of Regional Command Southwest.

Video by Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs

Soldiers from 1st Company, 5th Commando Kandak and Special Operations Task Force – East destroyed a weapons cache located in a cave near Qara Batur village, Baghlan province Jan. 26.

The Afghan-led force discovered the cave while conducting clearing operations in the area, known to be an insurgent staging location. The cache included 28 60mm mortar rounds, more than 200 rounds of DSHK anti-aircraft ammunition, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with rounds and AK-47 assault rifle ammunition.

An air weapons team was requested and both the cave and cache were destroyed on site.

The International Security Assistance Force confirmed two Taliban leaders were detained and Noorani Sahib, a Taliban leader was killed during Afghan and coalition forces operations in Kandahar, Nimroz and Zabul provinces Jan. 23, 25 and yesterday respectively.

Much accolade is given to the Afghan National Army, but there is another unit of fellow countrymen that is providing security to their republic – the Afghan Border Police.

The ABP partnered with the Marines and sailors of 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), for a patrol through local villages outside Combat Outpost Castle, Jan. 27, 2011.

The ABP’s mission is to enforce laws and provide security to the southern areas of Helmand province near the Pakistan border.

Videos by Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs

Afghan and coalition forces killed Tofan, a Haqqani Network leader, and one suspected insurgent with a precision air strike in Sabari District, Khost province yesterday.

Tofan was a Haqqani leader operating in Sabari District where the strike took place. He facilitated the movement of improvised explosive devices from Pakistan to insurgent groups operating in the area. The insurgent leader recently assumed a leadership position and was responsible for planning recent IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces operating in the district.