War News for Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Today in Afghanistan
Afghan soldiers killed fighting Taliban rises for fifth year

Reported security incidents
#1: One Afghan constable was killed and five others sustained injuries as a roadside bomb struck a police van in Farah province with Farah city as its capital 695 km west of Kabul on Monday night, a local official said Tuesday. “The tragic incident occurred Monday evening in Khak-e-Safid district, leaving a police constable dead and five others injured, ” spokesman for provincial administration Abdul Rahman Ghawandoi told Xinhua.

#2: Twelve Taliban fighters have been killed in various parts of the country, the Ministry of Interior said Monday. The joint forces conducted operations in Kunar, Baghlan, Kandahar, Wardak, Logar and Ghazni provinces over the past 24 hours, killing 10 Taliban fighters, injuring one and arresting nine more, an interior ministry press release available with the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) stated. The press release said two Taliban fighters were killed when an IED they were trying to plant went off prematurely in Grishk district.

#3: Afghan police during series of operations across the country have killed two Taliban militants and captured 26 others over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here Tuesday. “These operations have been conducted in Nangarhar, Kapisa, Kunduz, Maidan, Wardak, Logar, Ghazni and Helmand provinces during which two Taliban rebels were killed and 26 others detained,” the statement added. There were casualties on police forces, it said. Taliban militants have yet to comment on it.

#4: According to local authorities in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan, at least 4 Afghan civilians were killed or injured following missile attack from Pakistan. The officials further added at least 12 missiles were fired in Sarkano district, leaving an Afghan woman dead and 3 children injured. A commander for the Afghan border protection forces Wali Khan said the missiles were fired on Monady by Pakistani military from the Momand Agency area.

#5: According to local authorities in western Herat province of Afghanistan, two Afghan national army officers opened fire on Spanish troops convoy in Karkh district on Monday evening. A local security official speaking on the condition of anonymity said, the two Afghan army officers belong to the 3rd brigade of the Afghan national army in Herat province. He said Spanish troops did not suffer any casualties however the two Afghan officers managed to flee the area and the two will possibly have links with the Taliban group. In the meantime eye witnesses in the area said at least three Spanish troops were injured following the attack who were taken to Herat military hospital.

DoD:  Pfc. Markie T. Sims
Today in Afghanistan