KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army commandos from the 203rd Kandak, assisted by Coalition forces, arrested 17 suspected insurgents near Tirzaye and Sabari Districts, Khowst Province, Feb. 24.
Intelligence, provided by Afghan citizens, led the combined force to several compounds suspected of housing the militants. The detainees are suspected of being members of the Taliban, operating as facilitators in the emplacement and detonation of improvised explosive devices in Khowst.
“ANA commandos continue to successfully perform counter insurgency operations,” said Army Capt. Vanessa Bowman, Coalition forces spokesperson. “Arresting these insurgents will put a significant dent in IED attacks in the Tirzaye and Sabari Districts.”
Elsewhere, the Afghan National Army’s 201st Kandak, assisted by Coalition forces, responded to a report of an IED placed along a well-traveled road in Tarin Kowt, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan.
Afghan National Police secured the area to protect the civilian population and the ANA moved in to verify the location and type of IED. The ANA destroyed the IED in place.
“These actions by insurgents once again reaffirm the fact that they have little regard for the safety of Afghan civilians,” Bowman said. “The quick response from the ANP to secure the area and the actions of the ANA to dispose of the threat undoubtedly saved Afghan lives.”