British troops stage daring helicopter rescue in Afghanistan
Four British soldiers in Afghanistan strapped themselves to the wings of fast-moving apache attack helicopters in a daring attempt to rescue a comrade shot by the Taliban, the Defence Ministry said.
"This is believed to be the first time UK forces have ever tried this type of rescue mission . It was an extraordinary tale of heroism and bravery of our airmen, soldiers and marines who were all prepared to put themselves back into the line of fire to rescue a fallen comrade," said UK task force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Rory Bruce.
Royal Marine lance corporal Matthew Ford, 30, was shot yesterday when more than 200 British troops attacked the Islamist militia’s Jugroom Fort in southern Helmand province.
When Ford was discovered to be missing, the marines first planned a rescue attempt with armoured personnel carriers, but when the apaches became available they decided the fast attack helicopters provided the best opportunity to rescue him.
But the helicopters can only carry a pilot and a gunner, although according to The Guardian newspaper there are attachments on the wings that soldiers can harness themselves to in emergencies.
Two troops each were strapped to the wings of two apache helicopters, with a third apache and several ground units providing covering fire.
After landing at the site of the earlier battle, the four soldiers found Ford dead, but were able to recover his body.
Mullah Omar 'hiding in Pakistan'
Taleban leader Mullah Omar is living in Pakistan under the protection of its ISI intelligence agency, a captured Taleban spokesman has said.
The spokesman, Muhammad Hanif, made the apparent confession to Afghan agents who videotaped the questioning.
Mr Hanif is seen sitting in a dimly-lit room telling agents that Mullah Omar is in the city of Quetta. Correspondents confirm the voice is his.
Mullah Omar has not been seen since 2001. Pakistan rejected the claims.
Taliban commander killed, 20 militants arrested in S. Afghanistan
Afghan police have killed a Taliban commander and arrested 20 militants in the restive southern Kandahar province, local official said Thursday.
"Mullah Mohammed Amin, a Taliban commander was killed last night in an operation launched by Afghan police in Maiwand district of Kandahar province. Another 20 Taliban were also arrested during the operation," said Asadullah Khalid, governor of Kandahar province.
Amin had served in the former Taliban government before the hard-line regime was toppled in 2001.
Several Taliban commanders and leaders have been killed or arrested in a serial military operations conducted by NATO and Afghan forces since the end of last year.
Earlier NATO and Afghan forces said they have detained a prominent Taliban commander in southern Helmand province. NATO force did not identify the commander but said he was the first known Taliban leader captured by NATO-led coalition force and Afghan troops.
Earlier this week, Muhammad Hanif, a leading spokesman for Taliban, has been arrested in eastern Nangarhar province.
Last month, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani, a key associate of Taliban chief Mullah Omar was killed by a U.S. airstrike. He was the highest-ranking Taliban leader killed by the foreign troops since 2001.
U.S. Air Assets Support Strike in Afghanistan’s Bermel District
Numerous air assets from U.S. Central Command supported NATO and Afghan forces in Afghanistan’s Paktika province Jan. 10, killing as many as 150 insurgents, U.S. Central Command officials said.
U. S. Central Command Air Forces supported International Security Assistance Force and Afghan National Army forces with intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, air refueling and strike aircraft. They also expended precision munitions, missile and cannon rounds on a significant number of insurgents in the Bermel district of Paktika province, officials said.
ISAF battle damage estimates indicate as many as 150 insurgents were killed.
“The use of our combined air assets with their persistence, precision and lethality is a perfect example of the flexibility and combat capability of our coalition forces. We find and track the insurgents with our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and then target them with precise effect,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. William L. “Dutch” Holland, U.S. Central Command Air Forces deputy commander.
Holland also serves as commander of U. S. Central Command’s Deputy Combined Forces Air Component.
Two large groups of insurgents had been observed infiltrating Paktika province from Pakistan. The insurgents were monitored, tracked and subsequently engaged in Afghanistan, through the coordinated use of both air and ground fire in a series of engagements along the sparsely populated border region of Bermel district, U.S. officials said.
The insurgents had been observed gathering in Pakistan and had crossed the border before launching an attack against ANA and ISAF forces in the region. According to an ISAF press release, Pakistani military liaison officers were kept fully informed throughout the operation.
“Air strikes in support of this operation were a success because of the combined efforts of our aircrews and the ISAF and ANA ground forces working in concert to shut down the insurgents’ ability to operate in the Bermel district,” Holland said.
82nd heads to Afghanistan starting Saturday
Staff report
Posted : Thursday Jan 18, 2007 22:57:42 ESTAbout 5,000 paratroopers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, will deploy Saturday for Afghanistan from their home at Fort Bragg, N.C.
According to an Army press release, the paratroopers deploying are part of a task force that also includes the division’s headquarters, combat aviation brigade and special troops battalion.
The 4th BCT is the newest addition to the 82nd and began standing up in January 2006 as part of the Army’s modular transformation.
The scheduled rotation is expected to last one year.
The 10th Mountain Division, which has comprised the bulk of Combined Joint Task Force 76 for the past year, has begun returning to its home at Fort Drum, N.Y., but it’s unclear if the 82nd is intended as its replacement.
The South Carolina Army National Guard’s 218th Enhanced Separate Brigade will be deploying in April as the latest rotation of Task Force Phoenix outside Kabul. The task force will have about 5,000 soldiers, with 1,500 from South Carolina.
