Afghanistan: Coalition conducts Mountain Thrust strike in Paktika Province

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan
June 15, 2006

Coalition forces concluded an operation early this morning in Paktika Province that resulted in the estimated deaths of at least 40 insurgents.

The mission included close air support and ground operations with the purpose of capturing or killing top insurgent leadership.

The engagement was part of Operation Mountain Thrust, the large-scale effort by Afghan national security forces and the Coalition to defeat extremist forces in southern Afghanistan. Mountain Thrust will extend the authority of the Government of Afghanistan into the region through better governance, reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.

The Patika Province mission began in the early morning hours June 14 and started with an air strike targeting terrorists at a remote, mountainous stronghold, several kilometers from the village of Orgun-e.

Coalition ground forces subsequently moved in following the air strike to conduct a thorough site investigation, coming under fire and encountering numerous well-fortified and concealed fighting positions manned by aggressive fighters. Indications were that the area was heavily used by both foot and vehicular traffic.

Coalition forces destroyed remaining enemy elements, including several terrorist fighting positions, over the next 24-hour period, capturing one enemy who was wounded in the fighting. The one injured fighter was evacuated and treated by Coalition forces.

One Coalition member was wounded during the initial insertion of ground forces. Coalition forces at the location estimate at least 40 enemy fighters were killed during the fighting.

Since January... extremists have killed 10 innocent civilians by road side bombs and other attacks. Four schools have been damaged or destroyed in an attempt to deny Afghan youth of an education. Just yesterday, extremists dropped mortars on village in Bermel killing four and injuring 10 civilians.

“The operation in Patika Province is in support of Operation Mountain Thrust, our offensive, that we will relentlessly pursue extremists, and that we will remove their negative influence,” said Maj. Eric Zenk, spokesman for Task Force Spartan, a U.S.-led force in central and eastern Afghanistan. “Our efforts will enable progress in areas dominated by extremists who are standing in the way of security, economic and future progress and against those who intimidate and threaten the people of Afghanistan.”
(Above courtesy of: COMBINED FORCES COMMAND - AFGHANISTAN. COALITION PRESS INFORMATION CENTER. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. APO AE 09356 and taken from press release #060615-06)