BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 13, 2008) –Approximately 17 militants were killed after they attacked an Afghan National Security Force and Coalition force reconnaissance patrol in the Tarin Kowt District, Uruzgan province Thursday.

While investigating an area used by militants to attack an ANA checkpoint earlier this week, the combined patrol was ambushed by militants with small-arms and indirect fire.  The combined patrol returned small-arms fire and the militants moved into a fortified position near an orchard.
 
The combined patrol observed numerous non-combatants fleeing the area.  Once the area was assessed to be clear of non-combatants, the combined patrol confirmed positive identification of the militant’s position and requested support from Coalition aircraft.  Coalition forces directed one precision airstrike followed by air-to-ground gunfire on the positively identified enemy positions. 

The airstrike triggered a secondary explosion in a compound and the remnants of bomb-making materials were recovered from the site.

The combined patrol remained in the area overnight to provide security for the local populace. On the morning of June 13, around 100 militants again attacked ANSF and Coalition forces with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenades and then fled into a nearby village. Coalition aircraft engaged the positively identified enemy position with a precision airstrike.