Afghanistan

Corporal Stephen Thompson killed in Afghanistan

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Corporal Stephen Thompson from 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES), serving as part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group, was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 7 March 2010.

Corporal Thompson died as a result of an explosion in an area 3km south of Sangin district centre, Helmand province.

Continues at: Corporal Stephen Thompson killed in Afghanistan

Lance Corporal Tom Keogh killed in Afghanistan

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Lance Corporal Tom Keogh from 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 RIFLES), part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group, was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 7 March 2010.

Lance Corporal Keogh was killed by a gunshot wound during a small arms engagement in Sangin, Helmand province. He was in Patrol Base Bariolai when he was killed.

Continues at: Lance Corporal Tom Keogh killed in Afghanistan

BBC News: Soldier 'threw back hand grenade'

A British soldier has described how he picked up a Taliban hand grenade which landed at his feet and threw it back towards the enemy. Caroline Wyatt reports for BBC News.

Rifleman James McKie was on a tiny rooftop in Sangin. He and two of his platoon could hear the bullets fired by the Taliban below bouncing off the roof.

The 29-year-old soldier had just finished firing back when the grenade thrown by the insurgents bounced off his platoon commander and landed just a foot away from him.

Continues at: news.bbc.co.uk - Soldier 'threw back hand grenade'

AP: Suicide attack kills 2 NATO troops in Afghanistan

NATO says a suicide attack on its forces in eastern Afghanistan has left two of its service members dead. Nishan Uddin Khan reports for Associated Press.

The international alliance says the attack took place in the Ali Shir district of Khost province, where the alliance has a base near the Pakistan border.

Residents say they heard a large blast at the base. However, NATO spokeswoman Master Sgt. Sabrina Foster could not confirm reports that the attack took place at the base.

Continues at: hosted.ap.org - Suicide attack kills 2 NATO troops in Afghanistan

ISAF: Update on Afghan-ISAF Operations in Khost, Helmand, Kandahar - 9 March 2010

In Khost last night, an Afghan-international security force searched a compound outside the village of Galyan, in the Sabari district after intelligence information indicated militant activity. During the search the joint team captured a Haqqani commander, the military leader of a substantial number of fighters responsible for planning and executing attacks against coalition forces throughout the district. Several other insurgents were captured during the search.

The assault force also found several automatic rifles.

In the Washir district of Helmand province an Afghan-international security force searched a compound in a rural area, after intelligence information indicated militant activity. During the search the joint force captured a Taliban commander, responsible for multiple attacks against coalition forces and Afghan citizens, and a few other insurgents.

Continues at: isaf.nato.int - Afghan-ISAF Operations in Khost, Helmand, Kandahar

Al Jazeera: Afghan fighters surrender in north

Fighters from Hizb-e-Islami, an armed Afghan group, have surrendered to authorities in the northern Baghlan province.

About 70 members handed over their weapons following a two-day long battle with the Taliban.

The two groups, who were once allies, fought against each other over control for farmland.

The surrender comes after the leader of Hizb-e-Islami recently said the group is seeking to co-operate with the government as its relations with the Taliban worsen.

Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel Hamid reports from the Baghlan province.

From AlJazeeraEnglish on YouTube

AP: Afghan president to host April peace conference

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Monday that an action plan to reintegrate low- to mid-level insurgent fighters into society and negotiate with the Taliban's top echelon will be crafted next month at a peace conference aimed at ending the war. Rahim Faiez reports for Associated Press.

Karzai has already extended the government's offer to members of the Taliban who renounce ties to al-Qaida and other terrorist networks and agree to embrace the Afghan constitution. Karzai is finalizing details of a plan to offer jobs, vocational training and other economic incentives to tens of thousands of Taliban foot soldiers willing to switch sides.

Continues at: hosted.ap.org - Afghan president to host April peace conference

British Forces News: Showal Engineers

In Afghanistan work is going on round the clock to build a new patrol base in Showal, since it was taken by British Troops in Operation Moshtarak.

From BritishForcesNews on YouTube

NATO: President Karzai Visits Marjah

Afghan President Hamid Karzai went to the former Taliban stronghold of Marjah, where he met with residents, listened to their concerns and told them that theyd soon see positive change.

From natochannel123 on YouTube

Channel 4 News: Succumbing to the idea of staying longer

Trooper Pete Sheppard, from the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, writes from Afghanistan while he finds that his unit will be spending more time on the ground than originally thought.

Trooper Pete Sheppard is a radio operator with the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF), which is part of Operation Moshtarak against insurgents in Helmand province.

This morning we found out that the brigade want to extend our time on the ground. There were mixed feelings about this.

On the whole though it's a good thing as it just makes the time we have left on the ground go quicker. We are also going to be going into Lashkar Gah at some point for 12 hours so we can have a shower, use a proper toilet, get some clothes washed, eat some hot food and get some supplies from the shop there. The food there is immense.

Continues at: channel4.com/news - Succumbing to the idea of staying longer

Reuters: Gates in Kabul - dark days ahead but grounds for hope

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, on a visit to Afghanistan on Monday, cautioned against over-optimism, warning of "dark days" ahead despite grounds for hope on the battlefield.

Gates, on his first Afghan trip since President Barack Obama's surge of 30,000 troops began arriving in the country last December, said NATO forces had made gains recently, including a push to take control of the Taliban stronghold of Marjah.

Continues at: uk.reuters.com - Gates in Kabul - dark days ahead but grounds for hope

Al Jazeera: Karzai pledges to rebuild Marjah

Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan's president, has pledged to rebuild the southern Afghan town of Marjah following a NATO-led operation to take control of the area from the Taliban.

Karzai visited the former Taliban stronghold in southern Helmand province on Sunday, in his first trip to the town since US, Nato and Afghan troops launched a major military offensive in the region in February.

He met with about 300 local elders in a mosque in central Marjah, where he urged them to support his government in return for security and reconstruction projects.

Continues at: english.aljazeera.net - Karzai pledges to rebuild Marjah

ISAF: President Karzai makes landmark visit to former insurgent stronghold

Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, made a landmark visit to the former insurgent stronghold of Marjah in Helmand province on Sunday, 7 March 2010. The President arrived in Marjah to be greeted by local Afghan National Security Forces, Provincial and District Government official, local elders and community representatives. This is the first time an Afghan President or King has visited the area which, just a few weeks ago, was under the control of insurgents.

Continues at: isaf.nato.int - President Karzai makes landmark visit to former insurgent stronghold

BBC News: Blasts 'kill 12' in Afghanistan's Badghis province

At least 12 people have been killed by two roadside bombs in the north-western Afghan province of Badghis, police say.

The first blast hit a vehicle, killing 10 civilians. The second bomb exploded nearby shortly afterwards, killing two people in their vehicle, police said.

Unconfirmed reports say the second blast killed at least one policeman.

Meanwhile, there was an explosion and gunfire in the eastern town of Khost. Officials said security forces had surrounded at least two gunmen.

Continues at: news.bbc.co.uk - Blasts 'kill 12' in Afghanistan's Badghis province

BBC News: Pakistan suicide bomb attack kills 13 in Lahore

At least 13 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, police say.

More than 60 others were injured when an explosives-laden car targeted a building housing an anti-terrorist wing of the federal investigative agency.

The amount of explosives was so large it brought down the two-storey building, correspondents say.

Continues at: news.bbc.co.uk - Pakistan suicide bomb attack kills 13 in Lahore

The Times: 79 dead after rival Afghanistan insurgent groups clash

Bloody clashes between competing factions of Afghanistan’s insurgency left up to 79 people dead, officials said today, including 19 civilians in a lawless part of the country beyond the reach of government or NATO forces. Jerome Starkey reports from Kabul for The Times.

Fighting in a remote stretch of Baghlan province, in northern Afghanistan, broke out on Saturday, local police said, and continued through the weekend — although it was not clear what triggered the violence.

Most of the dead were fighters aligned with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a warlord once bankrolled by America during the anti-Russian resistance, the provincial police chief Mohammad Kabir Andarabi said.

Continues at: timesonline.co.uk - 79 dead after rival Afghanistan insurgent groups clash

Telegraph: Villagers trapped between Taliban and Pakistan's war machine

The battle to drive insurgents from the Swat Valley has left refugees fearing they may never return home. Nick Meo reports from Pakistan's North West Frontier province for The Daily Telegraph.

When the Pakistani Army began moving its tanks and artillery for a major offensive against the Taliban in the area around the Swat Valley, Miraj Khan found himself caught between two foes.

The farmer had been praying for deliverance from the black-turbaned gunmen for months, but liberation did not come quite as he hoped. When army shells came crashing into his village last week, he was forced to cram his family and possessions into a van and flee from the path of his would-be rescuers.

Continues at: telegraph.co.uk - Villagers trapped between Taliban and Pakistan's war machine

Helmand blog: UK soldiers fight alongside the Afghan Army and Police

The patrol started off just like any other from Patrol Base Shaheed (2.5km North East of Showal) last Thursday, 4 March 2010. The Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police were in the lead as they are for most of the patrols in the area. As usual they had with them a handful of British soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (1 R WELSH), there to offer support if needed.

Patrol Base Shaheed was set up following Operation Moshtarak which took place just over three weeks ago. It was the largest air assault in Helmand since the campaign started in 2001.

Continues at: helmandblog.blogspot.com - Fighting alongside the Afghan Army and Police

Insurgent activity in Sangin

The loss of any British or Afghan service person is very sad and our thoughts remain with the families of those who have died in Sangin and elsewhere in Afghanistan. Sangin is the most challenging area in which British troops operate and is where we have taken many of our casualties.  Significant progress has been made in Sangin over the last three years. 
 
The District Centre and bazaar area remain largely secure and this has given the vast majority of law-abiding Afghan citizens a haven and a focus for their legitimate activity. Such advances would not be possible were it not for the sacrifices and continued endeavours of the coalition and Afghan forces on the ground and, despite the challenges, the Combined Force remains ever more determined to succeed. 
 
Sangin is an area that matters deeply both to the Taliban and the Afghan government, which is why it is so keenly contested. The area is currently experiencing a relatively high level of activity. Spikes in incidents have been experienced previously and there is no evidence that this is due fighters moving from the area of Op MOSHTARAK.  We cannot discount, however, that the upsurge in activity is a deliberate ploy by the Taliban leadership to deflect attention from the successes in Central Helmand. 
 
The situation is being closely monitored by ISAF, and a number of security and political measures have been taken to counter the increased level of insurgent activity.

Maj Gen Gordon Messenger, UK Military Spokesman

Rifleman Liam Maughan of 3 RIFLES killed in Afghanistan

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Rifleman Liam Maughan of 3rd Battalion The Rifles.

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Rifleman Liam Maughan of 3rd Battalion The Rifles.

Rifleman Liam Maughan died from wounds received as a result of small arms fire which occurred near Sangin, in Helmand province, during the morning of 6 March 2010.

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Mail on Sunday: Saving soldier X

It was one of the most complex military logistical and medical operations ever undertaken – and it saved the life of a young British soldier critically injured in Afghanistan. Peter Almond reports for The Mail on Sunday.

It involved hundreds of doctors, air and ground crews of several nations, travelling many thousands of miles, revolutionary and experimental medical equipment, several planes and helicopters and communications between three continents and cost millions of pounds.

For months, details of the massive operation to save one man’s life have been shrouded in secrecy. The injured soldier was not shot by the Taliban but was almost certainly wounded accidentally at his camp near Sangin in Helmand province in late July last year.

Continues at: dailymail.co.uk - Saving soldier X