ANSF, B 3-187 capture 5 insurgents in combined air assault

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces, partnered with B Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, captured five insurgents in an air assault operation in the vicinity of Shin Tsa village of the Shakilabad district, May 31.

Reacting to intelligence reports of militant forces, the combined assault force searched the village and detained two insurgents on a motorcycle and confiscated an AK-47, a radio and multiple chest rack systems.

The units then moved to a neighboring village in pursuit of more suspected insurgents and capturing three.   

Afghan forces also found four bandoleers of ammunition, that included armor piercing rounds, Enfield-style rifles, cell phones, tapes of insurgent propaganda and an assortment of explosive-making materials.  

“I think the mission was a huge success and in the future I hope to do a lot more air assaults so we can strike at the heart of where the [insurgents] operate,” said Asadullah, the Zarghun Shahr National Directorate of Security chief.

The evidence, along with the detainees, has been turned over to the National Directorate of Security in Afghanistan for prosecution and further questioning, said Asadullah.

Asadullah said he was very pleased with the captured contraband and is confident that his organization can use it to gain successful convictions.

U.S. Army Capt. Aaron Schwengler, commander of Company B, from Bismarck, N.D., agreed, adding that the five detainees could yield crucial evidence needed to help secure the district.

“[The] gathered intelligence on the insurgents’ leadership in the area will drive future operations to disrupt them in the Shakilabad and Jani Khel areas,” said Schwengler.