ANSF, A Co. 3-187th conduct air assault to Zwaka

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan– Afghan National Security Forces and Soldiers from Company A, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, conducted an air assault operation into Zwaka Village, Omna District, Paktika Province, June 8.

The operation was in response to reports of insurgents using the village as a safe haven and storage area for weapons, said U.S. Army Capt. Joshua Powers, Company A, commander, from Atlanta, Ga.  

The combined team detained four suspected insurgents, and confiscated one AK-47 and multiple documents.

“It was a successful mission in which the [National Directorate of Security] and [Afghan Uniformed Police] identified two known insurgents and ended up capturing four people from the objective,” said U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Justin Buckner, with Company A, from Michigan.

The NDS will question the detainees to learn about other insurgent activity in the area, Powers said.

 “Additionally, we spoke with the elders about government within Paktika province, and possible insurgent influence within the village,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Marcus Smith, platoon leader of 1st Platoon, Company A, from Pittsburgh, Penn.

Smith said that he was pleased with the results of the operation and always appreciates removing enemy combatants from the fight.

“The search of Zwaka Village was conducted very professionally by the Paktika police and NDS agents.  As a result, four insurgents are in custody, we have intelligence to conduct future operations, and the Omna district is a little safer,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Fivecoat, commander of 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, from Delaware, Ohio. “We look forward to more operations like this with our Afghan partners.”