Coalition Troops in Afghanistan Kill 34 Militants, Capture Four

American Forces Press Service

July 1, 2008 - Coalition forces in Afghanistan killed 34 militants and captured four others during separate operations in Khowst and Nimruz provinces yesterday, military officials said. Coalition forces operating in southern Khowst province killed 33 militants. A coalition aerial reconnaissance team located the militants, who were armed with heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Coalition forces engaged the militants with attack helicopters and a close-air-support bomber. All of the militants were killed.

Coalition forces killed one militant and captured four others during an anti-Taliban operation conducted in Nimruz province. Coalition forces searched compounds in the Khash Rod district looking for a Taliban leader who was known to smuggle weapons, facilitate roadside-bomb attacks and coordinate foreign-fighter movements.

Coalition forces encountered an armed militant who attempted to engage them. The coalition troops responded with small-arms fire, killing the militant. Coalition troops found 12 Afghan National Police uniforms and 50 pounds of opium. The drugs were destroyed, and the uniforms were confiscated.

In other news, coalition and Afghan soldiers killed several militants during a joint operation in the Khas Oruzgan district of Oruzgan province June 27.

The combined forces received small-arms fire from militants during a reconnaissance patrol. The U.S. and Afghan troops returned fire and called in air support, killing several militants.

Coalition and Afghan troops entered the militants' compound and found the body of a young girl. On-scene medical personnel determined that the girl had been killed before the attack started.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 101 news releases.)