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More than 10 insurgents were killed and several suspected insurgents detained by Afghan National Security and International Security Assistance Forces in separate clearing operations in eastern, southern and western Afghanistan over the last 24 hours, Dec. 20.

An Afghan National Army and ISAF patrol were engaged by insurgents with small arms fire in Kajaki district, Helmand province, Dec. 19. Combined forces returned several mortar rounds and called for air support. After gaining positive identification, the air weapons team engaged, killing several insurgents.

In Darah-ye Pech district, Kunar province, an ISAF outpost spotted numerous armed insurgents and requested air support. The air weapons team declared an imminent threat and engaged the enemy position, killing numerous insurgents.

Afghan National Security and ISAF also discovered several caches in east, south and west, Dec. 20.

In Uruzgan, Farah and Paktika provinces, Afghan National Security and ISAF found six large weapons and IED caches in Chorah, Bakwah, Orgun and Zarghun Shahr districts during separate clearing operations. The weapon caches consisted of 12 rocket-propelled grenades, 15 RPG warheads, one 107 mm rocket, two fuses, one Spanish gun, two hand grenades, nine Russian grenades, five full AK-47 magazines, 2,300 7.62 mm rounds, nine 82 mm recoilless rifle rounds, five motorbikes and fake passports. The IED components found consisted of one command-wire IED, one artillery round filled with homemade explosive, three pressure plates, one chest rack, one blasting cap, 10 gallons (37 litres) of hydrochloric acid and 2,300 pounds (1,040 kilograms) of chemical components for homemade explosives. Coalition forces also detained several suspected insurgents found in possession of the illegal chemical components.

An Afghan Border Police and ISAF patrol discovered 992 pounds (450 kg) of hashish and one motorbike during a search on a suspected insurgent building. Combined forces also detained several suspected insurgents related to the drugs cache.

Initial reports indicate no civilians were injured and no damage was reported during the clearing operations. The weapons, explosives and drugs from all provinces were confiscated and will be destroyed.

Article by ISAF Joint Command