Posts Tagged ‘Afghanistan’

Breaking — US Army Confirms 130 Soldiers Committed Suicide in 2012

Posted: February 2, 2013 in Features, Stories
Tags: , , ,
0

By Mustafa Kazemi

The US Army released suicide data less than an hour ago for the month of December and calendar year 2012.

During December, among active-duty soldiers, there were seven potential suicides: three have been confirmed as suicides and four remain under investigation.

For November, the Army reported 12 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers: four have been confirmed as suicides and eight remain under investigation.

For 2012, there have been 182 potential active-duty suicides: 130 have been confirmed as suicides and 52 remain under investigation.

Active-duty suicide number for 2011: 165 confirmed as suicides and no cases under investigation.

During December, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were 15 potential suicides (10 Army National Guard and five Army Reserve): four have been confirmed as suicides and 11 remain under investigation.

For November, among that same group, the Army reported 15 potential suicides (12 Army National Guard and three Army Reserve): 10 have been confirmed as suicides and five remain under investigation.

For 2012, there have been 143 potential not on active-duty suicides (96 Army National Guard and 47 Army Reserve): 117 have been confirmed as suicides and 26 remain under investigation.

Not on active-duty suicide numbers for 2011: 118 (82 Army National Guard and 36 Army Reserve) confirmed as suicides and no cases under investigation.

“The Army continues to take aggressive measures head-on to meet the challenge of suicides as every loss of life impacts our family,” said Lt. Gen. Howard Bromberg, deputy chief of Staff, Manpower and Personnel. “In spite of the increased loss of life to suicide, with calendar year 2012 being our highest on record, the Army is confident that through our continued emphasis in the services, programs, policies, and training that support our Army family, we will overcome this threat to our Force. We’ve expanded the Strong Bonds Program to strengthen relationships and family bonds; broadened our training scope by certifying over three thousand additional suicide prevention trainers in the Ask, Care, Escort suicide intervention program; revised Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program to include family members (CSF2); increased our volume and availability of behavioral health services; and conducted an Army-wide stand down during Suicide Prevention Month to promote increased leaders’ awareness and involvement. Additionally, the Army will launch its Ready and Resilient Campaign to guide our efforts to improve resilience and readiness, provide quality care, and improve the effectiveness of the programs and services to ensure comprehensive care of our soldiers, civilians and family members.”

Taliban Attack U.S. Military Air Base in Eastern Afghanistan (Round Up)

Posted: December 2, 2012 in Daily incidents, Heavy attacks, Stories
Tags: , ,
0

By Mustafa Kazemi

Kabul (Combat Journalist) – Taliban insurgents attacked a U.S. Military Air Base early Sunday Morning in Eastern Afghanistan’s Jalalabad city.

Several Taliban insurgents equipped with suicide bombing vests and light assault rifles attacked Forward Operation Base Fenty’s main gate in Jalalabad city around 05:50 GMT on Sunday.

U.S. and Afghan Forces stationed at the Air Base’s entrance responded to the attack that was followed by multiple explosions caused by suicide blasts, according to the multinational International Security Assistance Forces’ Joint Command here in Kabul.

Several U.S. Military troops were wounded as a result of the attack, but the exact figure was not disclosed by the Joint Command due to operational security.

A spokesperson for Taliban insurgents immediately claimed responsibility of the attack via an email, claiming to have caused a high number of fatalities to both US & Afghan troops.

U.S. Army and Afghan Police forces guarding the main perimeter of the Air Base responded to the attack that led to death of three Afghan Army Service Members and wounding of 7 others from Shahin Battalion of Afghan Army, An Intelligence Official told the BBC Reporter.

Following the suicide explosions by the Taliban insurgents, An AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopter belonging to the U.S. Army engaged the insurgents at short altitude which ended the siege.

An OH-58 Kiowa Helicopter also with the U.S. Army scouted the siege throughout while the Apache attack helo later fired on the attackers, ending the nearly one hour siege.

Forward Operation Base Fenty is a Joint U.S.-Afghan Military Air Base serving both Aerial & Infantry Operations purposes for the Province & the region.

F.O.B. Fenty is attached to Jalalabad city’s civilian airport, which also houses U.S. military troops along with few other bases in the province.

Follow Mustafa on Twitter, Facebook or Email him.

Names of six US soldiers killed in Afghanistan, released by U.S. Army

Posted: July 12, 2012 in Heavy attacks, Stories
Tags: , , , , ,
0

U.S. Department of Defense today released the names of six American soldiers who died in the IED attack in Eastern Afghanistan on July 8.

They died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, with IED.

They were assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Killed were:

••• Staff Sgt. Ricardo Seija, 31, of Tampa, Fla.,

••• Spc. Erica P. Alecksen, 21, of Eatonton, Ga.,

••• Spc. Clarence Williams III, 23, of Brooksville, Fla.,

••• Pfc. Trevor B. Adkins, 21, of Spring Lake, N.C.,

••• Pfc. Alejandro J. Pardo, 21, of Porterville, Calif., and

••• Pfc. Cameron J. Stambaugh, 20, of Spring Grove, Pa.

Follow Combat Journalist on Twitter & Facebook.

Afghanistan – 4 attacks; 53 killed, 65 wounded

Posted: June 6, 2012 in Heavy attacks
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

Combat Journalist (Kabul) – A grieved day in Afghanistan for everybody; the government, the people, coalition forces, US Military, & the Taliban insurgents.

First Attack – Twin Suicide Bombings in Kandahar:

A suicide bomber in Spin Boldak district of Southern Kandahar province attacked a crowd of people who were having tea or lunch or chatting with each other in a small café close to the highway.

First explosion caused by a motorcycle-mounted IED left several dead and wounded.

Within few minutes when people from around the area gathered at the explosion spot, a foot suicide bomber penetrated the crowd; setting the bomb on his body off, killed the 2nd group of civilians also.

The twin explosions killed 23 civilians and wounded over 50. Around 30 of the wounded men had suffered minor injuries and were dismissed after medical treatment at a close by clinic.

Second Attack – Suicide bombing in a crowded marketplace in Northern Faryab

A crowded marketplace in Maimana capital of Northern Faryab province where civilian men, women & children usually go to purchase their household needs.

Suicide bomber on foot sets his body explosives off in the middle of the market in the afternoon, couple of hours after Kandahar massive twin suicide attacks.

Two people were killed; one was a woman, another, a Local Policemen patrolling the market.

Atop the two killed, 10 people were also wounded – out of which 5 were women who were out to purchase goods for their houses.

A controversial incident – Precision Air Strike by NATO Forces killing 18 Afghans

This incident took place in South Central Logar province when NATO troops came under fire from an insurgent position. The dismounted forces requested air support to tackle the attack.

Helicopters arrived at the scene, and attacked the hideout where the forces had taken fire from.

According to local Afghan officials 18 civilians including women & children were killed as the Taliban insurgents were hiding within the same house with the civilians; and 8 Taliban fighters were also killed.

But according to the ISAF-NATO Public Affairs Office, after “Follow-on assessment, it became clear that only two women were slightly wounded, & the forces transported them to an ISAF medical facility for treatment”.

President Hamid Karzai condemned this, and called for a thorough investigation to determine further facts about the incidents – and to clarify if the civilian casualty did actually occur.

Last incident is crash of an ISAF helicopter in East of Afghanistan

In the afternoon Wednesday 7th May ISAF Joint Command Press Desk released a statement saying a helicopter of the coalition forces has crashed in Eastern Afghanistan killing two crew members.

The helicopter was a UH-60 Blackhawk.

An Afghan official later said that the helicopter belonged to the US Army infantry and was en route to Kabul. He did not specify the province where the helicopter crushed.

The official said the crush site was secured & cordoned off by Afghan & coalition troops in the area.

A natural incident killed an 11-years-old girl in Northern Balkh province

This incident is although non-hostile, but is sad and unfortunate for the girl who lost her life.

She was busy playing with her plastic toys, when the television which was improperly set on table, fell off at the small girl’s head, killing her immediately.

The television was an old SONY 32” and was relatively very heavy.

Follow Combat Journalist on Twitter.

21 hours, 40 minutes siege ends; 11 people killed, 17 wounded.

Posted: September 14, 2011 in Daily incidents, Heavy attacks, Stories
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
0

Taliban attack on Kabul city comes to an end after 21 hours, 40 minutes, started on Tuesday Sept 13.

Six suicide attacker terrorists nested in a building that overwatch US Embassy, Headquarters of ISAF, an several other buildings including the Special Forces base, and the domestic intelligence agency of Afghanistan.

At 09:40 am Kabul Local time, September 14, all six insurgents were killed and the building was cleared.

All of the Afghan National Security Forces as well as the ISAF military troops participated in the operation to tackle the siege.

A total of 11 people, mostly civilians, including children & policemen were killed and 19 others, civilians, policemen were wounded.

A journalist working for the Afghanistan State-run TV was also shot wounded in the left buttock.

Previous details of yesterday about the is available here.

Follow me on Twitter & Facebook for quick updates on Security incidents in Afghanistan.

Latest details of Kabul massive terrorist attack

Posted: September 13, 2011 in Daily incidents, Heavy attacks, Stories
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

Taliban insurgents attacked several landmark organizations in Kabul at 01:30 pm.

The first target was the US Embassy area where headquarters of ISAF, Special Forces Unit, domestic intelligence agency, Ministry of Defense media office, and a number of other agencies including televisions.

Insurgents were armed with Kalashnikov rifles, Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers, RPD Machine Guns, Suicide vests, and 82mm Recoilless weapon.

Upto now (06:46 pm Kabul Local Time) there are 6 people (4 civilians, 2 cops) have been killed and more than 15 people are wounded.

The spokesman for ministry of Interior of Afghanistan says there are 2-3 suicide attackers still alive.

Witnesses at the area of attack report of several explosions, likely of RPGs, as well as sporadic firing or AK-47s are going on.

Their main weapon was RPG launchers that the insurgents used to shoot at random targets.

Most of the RPGs hit Wazir Akbar Khan area where lots of offices and luxurious homes are located.

Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid took responsibility of the attack and said their main target was domestic intelligence agency (NDS), US Embassy, & Headquarters of ISAF.

Several other explosions, mainly suicide bombings took place at other parts of Kabul also.

One explosion targeted the headquarters of 202 Border Police corps killing 1 policeman, wounding 2 others.

Another explosion hit close to the Border Police HQ in Deh Mazang area that wounded 4 people.

The third suicide bombing was shot dead before detonating himself at Bibi Mehro residential area around Kabul Airport.

ISAF provided close air support and shot at the insurgents with AH-64 Apache gunship helicopters.

Forces involved in the cross fire were: Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP), Afghan National Army (ANA), Afghan Crisis Response Unit (CRU) as well as ISAF military forces.

Follow me on Twitter for further updates on Afghanistan & the current attack.

Three killed, 102 wounded in Afghan military base bombing

Posted: September 11, 2011 in Daily incidents, Heavy attacks
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
0

Three killed, 102 wounded in Afghan military base bombing

Sep 11, 2011, 10:17 GMT

Kabul – Three Afghan civilians, including an interpreter for NATO-led forces, were killed, and 102 others injured, when an explosive-laden truck was detonated in front of a foreign military base in central Afghanistan, officials said Sunday.

The NATO-led forces in a statement confirmed that a Taliban suicide bomber had detonated a large vehicle-borne explosives device at the entrance of Combat Outpost Sayed Abad, causing significant number of injuries. ‘Seventy-seven ISAF personnel and less than 25 Afghan civilians have received non-life-threatening injuries’ the NATO statement said.

The driver, whose truck was carrying firewood, detonated his explosives late Saturday at the Outpost’s entry control point, the statement read. The base is in Sayed Abad district of Maidan Wardak province.

‘As a result of the explosion, an Afghan interpreter and a guard for coalition forces and a civilian were killed’ Shahidullah Shahid, the provincial governor’s spokesman, said. Coalition forces put the death toll at two Afghan civilians.

He said foreign soldiers and Afghan guards with the base were also injured.

The Taliban took responsibility for the attack, which came one day before the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Separately, a roadside bomb in northern Afghanistan killed five civilians, including three children who were travelling in a vehicle, Kunduz police chief Samiullah Qatra said. Another civilian was injured in the explosion.

Meanwhile, six civilians were killed and nine others were injured on Saturday when a civilian vehicle struck a roadside bomb in the eastern province of Paktika.

‘A passenger vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Barmal district of eastern province of Paktika province yesterday, killing six civilians, including two women and injuring nine others,’ Mukhles Afghan, the spokesman for the governor, said.

Follow me on Twitter & Facebook for further updates on Afghanistan.

 

ISAF discloses the circumstances of how Khpalwak was killed

Posted: September 9, 2011 in Features, Heavy attacks, Memories, Stories
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

Executive Summary of Army Regulation 15-6 Report on Death of
Khpalwak

On 28 July, 2011 insurgents initiated a complex attack in the city of Tarin Khot, Uruzgan,
Afghanistan. The targets attacked included the Provincial Governor’s Compound and the
Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) compound.

At the RTA compound two insurgents armed with small arms and suicide vests used a
vehicle-borne IED to destroy the gate and section of the wall to gain access to the
compound. They entered the RTA building and exchanged fire with uniformed Afghan
forces in the immediate vicinity.

When US forces arrived at the compound they began to receive small arms fire from the
insurgents. US forces first responded with small arms fire, and then with crew-served
weapons. The unit was informed by uniformed Afghan leadership at the scene that two
suicide bombers were in the RTA building; they were not aware of any civilians present.

Additional US forces arrived at the scene and one Soldier was wounded by small arms
fire. When forces were not able to neutralize the insurgents with ground-based fire, the unit
directed AH-64 engagements with 30mm gun on the building. After the last engagement
with 30mm gun the firing from the building ceased.

As a significant proportion of ANSF forces were committed to the fight at the Governor’s
compound, US forces led a building clearing operation to confirm the insurgents no longer
posed a threat. Upon US Soldiers entering the RTA building the two suicide bombers
detonated their explosives, collapsing the front walls of the building and trapping members
of the clearing team under heavy brick debris.

While some Soldiers rushed to the aid of the injured, others remained in overwatch to
provide security. While those operations were ongoing, a small team of Soldiers was
directed to continue clearing the remains of RTA building.

During the clearing operation a Soldier in an overwatch position, outside the building,
identified movement of a young adult male in the building through a large hold in a broken
wall. The room the man was in was immediately adjacent to the room where one of the
suicide bombers had detonated his suicide vest IED, and across the hall from the other
suicide vest detonation, just minutes before.

The Soldier then heard a shot that he perceived came from the man’s exact location. It is probable that the shot he heard was
actually fire by a Soldier inside the building during the building clearing.

The Soldier in overwatch assessed the individual he observed to be enemy and fired a
single round which did not strike him. In the stress and urgency of the moment, it is highly
probable that Soldiers in the courtyard outside the building incorrectly perceived that shot
as having been fired by the man in the building. Multiple Soldiers believed he was
shooting, and called out warnings.

A Soldier was directed to move up to the broken wall where the man was seen. As the
Soldier approached he observed a young adult male with a beard with something clinched
in one of his fists and reaching for something on his person with his other hand.

Based on the events of the events of the preceding minutes the Soldier assessed the actions as
those of a suicide bomber who was taking steps to detonate an IED that posed a lethal
threat to numerous Soldiers in the immediate area. He shot the individual with his M-4,
killing him.

Because of the danger posed by unexploded ordnance, the US Soldiers withdrew from the
building as soon as friendly forces were extracted from the rubble of the IED blasts.

Afghan forces removed the body from the building; it was that of Ahmad Omid Khpalwak.
He was unarmed; no weapon was found nearby. It appears that all the rounds perceived
as coming from his location were instead fired by US Soldiers.

In summary, Ahmad Omid Khpalwak was killed in a case of mistaken identity. He was shot
by US forces who believed he was an insurgent that fired on them with a weapon and was
subsequently taking action to detonate a suicide vest IED.

Follow me on Twitter & Facebook for full news updates & feed on Afghanistan.

Bodies of two Germans hikers found in Parwan

Posted: September 5, 2011 in Daily incidents
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

The dead bodies of two German hiker who went missing two weeks ago in Parwan province has been detected.

The bodies have been detected by the local people and the authorities are notified to collect the bodies.

Teams of Police, National Intelligence, and other forces are en route to the Salang area to collect the bodies.

The cause of the death is not determined yet.

Follow me on Twitter for further updates.

Key Al-Qaeda affiliate killed in Eastern Afghanistan by ISAF

Posted: September 3, 2011 in Daily incidents, Features, Stories
Tags: , , , , , ,
0

KABUL, Afghanistan (Sep. 3) — A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed a key affiliate of the al-Qaida network during a security operation in Jalalabad district, Nangarhar province, yesterday.

Sabar Lal was an insurgent leader responsible for attacks and financing insurgent operations in the Pech district, Kunar province. He was in contact with several senior al-Qaida members throughout Kunar and Pakistan.

The security force located Sabar Lal at a compound in Jalalabad district after receiving information from local citizens. He emerged from the building with an AK-47 assault rifle and was killed.

Several suspected insurgents were also taken into custody during the security operation.

Coalition security forces have captured or killed more than 40 al-Qaida insurgents in eastern Afghanistan this year.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

Follow me on Twitter & Facebook for news updates from Afghanistan.