ANSF, 3-187 find and destroy IED Factory

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghan National Security Forces combined with Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team and Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment in discovering an improvised explosive device factory in Mata Khan district, Paktika Province, Afghanistan, May 25.

Found in the factory were over 100 pounds of homemade explosives, seven mortar rounds, five recoilless rifle rounds, three pressure plates, eight rocket propelled grenades, blasting caps, cell phones, timing devices and hundreds of AK-47 machine gun rounds.

The facility, along with the munitions, was destroyed by an explosive ordnance team, preventing future use from militant forces.

“I am happy that we could disrupt the [militant forces] so successfully without anyone being hurt,” said Commander Nazar Khan, the Afghan Uniformed Police commander for the Mata Khan district.

Khan said he is eager to see more future operations that assist in making Mata Khan District safe for its citizens.

The combined forces also found a medical facility used to treat wounded militant forces.

Combined leadership showed pleasure in the elimination of the facility.

"It was a great group effort – [National Directorate of Security] provided the intelligence and a source to identify the IED factory, the AUP searched every qalat in the village, and the [Afghan National Army] provided perimeter security,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Fivecoat, from Fort Campbell, Ky., commander of 3rd Bn., 187th Inf. Regt., 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.

 “Together the Paktika Security Forces destroyed a IED Factory and increased the safety and security of Sharana and the surrounding districts," said Fivecoat.