Coalition forces maintain pressure on roadside bomb network in Zabul

Release Number 20090901-01

January 9, 2009

KABUL, Afghanistan – The operation in Jaldak District, located in Zabul province, approximately 60 km northeast of Kandahar, targeted a Taliban roadside bomb facilitator known to direct and employ roadside bombs which kill Afghan civilians and Coalition forces, Thursday. The wanted militant is also believed to be in direct contact with local Taliban commanders, planning roadside bomb attacks along Highway One.

As Coalition forces approached the intended compound, armed militants engaged the force with small-arms fire.  Realizing the potential for women and children to be inside the buildings from which they were engaged, Coalition forces held their fire and instructed all individuals to exit the building peacefully.  Adhering to the commands, nine women and 16 children exited without harm and were escorted by the force to a safe location. 

Disregarding Coalition forces’ instructions to surrender, the armed militants remained inside the buildings and continued to engage the force with small-arms fire.  Having moved the women and children to safety the force entered the buildings, killing five armed militants and detaining three suspected militants during the operation.

The force found one rocket-propelled grenade, hidden in the building, and destroyed it to prevent its future use.

“These roadside bombs and explosive facilitators are a threat to everyone here in Afghanistan. We will continue to act as one collective force against these threats,” said Col Jerry O’Hara, a U.S. Forces-Afghanistan spokesperson.  “Facilitators, safe houses, weapon suppliers and those who support them will continue to be targeted until they are stopped.”