PRESS RELEASE | March 3, 2009
Commandos disrupt militant activities in Kandahar
By None , U.S. Forces – Afghanistan

Joint Press Release

February 27, 2009

Release Number 20092702-02

Commandos disrupt militant activities in Kandahar

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army commandos of the 205th Corps, assisted by Coalition Forces, detained one militant during a compound search in the Maywand District, Kandahar Province Feb. 26.

The combined elements also discovered a weapons cache containing AK-47 and heavy machine gun ammunition, single-shot rifle rounds, 400 pounds of ammonium nitrate, used in making explosives and 100 feet of wire. The cache was destroyed in place.

Seventeen men, five women and 21 children were protected by the commandos during the operation. The commandos received no resistance, and no shots were fired during the operation.

In a Feb. 20 search of a compound in the same area, the commandos discovered several weapons caches containing 120 pounds of black tar opium, five AK-47 assault rifles with 17 magazines, three other rifles, one shotgun and three grenades.

No ANA, Coalition Forces or non-combatants were injured in either operation.

“The 205th Corps commandos are ruthlessly rooting out the enemies of Afghanistan, destroying their weapons and the drugs used to fund their inhumane activities,” said Ministry of Defense Chief Press Officer, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi. “The combined forces are committed to creating a secure and stable country and will not rest until the insurgents are no longer terrorizing the Afghan people.”

-30-

United States Forces Afghanistan’s mission, in coordination with NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, is to conduct operations to defeat terrorist networks and insurgents by developing effective governance and building the Afghan National Security Force. Effective security throughout the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan facilitates continued regional stability and increases economic development for the people of Afghanistan.

Contact information:

Ministry of Defense, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Press office telephone: 93 (0) 20 210 2742

US Forces Afghanistan Public Affairs, office telephone: 93 (0) 799 51 2919