Afghan and coalition forces conducted a multi-day deliberate clearing operation aimed at disrupting the Taliban’s freedom of movement outside Kandahar City, killing at least 11 insurgents and destroying several house-borne improvised explosive devices.
The operation started Sunday and ended Monday.
The joint security force is continuing their efforts to disrupt enemy safe havens in Kandahar province. This operation focused on an area south of Khosrow-e Sofla in restive Arghandab district. It’s an area plagued with improvised explosive device activity and populated with insurgents.
During the operation, the combined force encountered multiple trip wire IED's, a large homemade explosive IED factory, and multiple house-borne IED's. Coalition aircraft conducted several precision air strikes on the IED's in order to protect the local population.
“These clearing operations help rid the area of insurgents and disrupt their activities throughout the region,” U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director said. “The ultimate goal is to disrupt the enemy’s sanctuaries and staging areas for attacks into Kandahar City so that the people of Kandahar City can continue their efforts building security and more importantly re-building their lives without the Taliban threat.”
Immediately following their arrival to the target area, the joint force encountered heavy enemy contact, including IED's along with mortar, rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. The assault force returned fire and killed at least 11 insurgents during several engagements.
“The Taliban uses intimidation and threats to force their way into areas outside Kandahar City to stage their attacks,” said Torres. “Afghan and coalition forces are focusing on clearing known safe havens around the city and denying the insurgents use of these areas.”
Article by ISAF Joint Command