Two coordinated attacks came today at two FOB's in eastern Afghanistan - FOB Salerno and FOB Chapman as Haqqani Network jihadis, wearing U.S. military uniforms in at least one of the attacks, used mortars, RPG's and small arms to try and breach the bases. Both attacks were repelled although two jihadis did get in under the wire before being killed.
Here's some of the report from The Long War Journal:
And the disturbing issues here are the brazen style of these attacks - these are fairly large bases and although the threat doesn't seem too great in the aftermath...it shows just how confident the Haqqani Network remains.
Here's some of the report from The Long War Journal:
Coalition and Afghan troops beat back a complex Haqqani Network assault on two bases in eastern Afghanistan today, killing more than 20 fighters and a senior commander during and after the attack. Two Haqqani Network fighters breached the perimeter of one of the bases before being killed.It's encouraging to see that NATO forces launched an air assault after the base attacks to take out some higher level Taliban here, especially Mudasir, who is a pretty good fish to finally take out.
The Haqqani Network "simultaneously launched" coordinated attacks on Forward Operating Base Salerno and Forward Operation Base Chapman in the early morning today, the International Security Assistance Force stated in a press release. An unknown number of fighters attacked the bases at 4 a.m. with mortars, rockets-propelled grenades, and small arms fire. The Haqqani Network fighters were wearing US military uniforms during the attack.
The combined Coalition and Afghan force killed 13 Haqqani Network fighters at FOB Salerno, four of whom were wearing suicide vests, and six more at FOB Chapman, ISAF stated. Five others were detained. Afghan police also discovered a car bomb, seven suicide vests, and two recoilless rifles that may have been intended for use in the attack.
Two of the Haqqani Network fighters were killed after breaching the perimeter at Salerno. "Coalition forces had the two insurgents under surveillance and when they cut the fence, a quick reaction force was dispatched to the location where they were killed immediately," ISAF stated.
ISAF air weapons teams later killed a Haqqani Network facilitator known as Mudasir and two other fighters as they fled the scene of the attack. Mudasir, who is also known as Qari Ishaq, was described by ISAF as "a Haqqani Network facilitator for improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers." He "had direct ties to Haqqani Network senior leadership based in Pakistan and was a teacher at a madrassa known to facilitate suicide bombers."
And the disturbing issues here are the brazen style of these attacks - these are fairly large bases and although the threat doesn't seem too great in the aftermath...it shows just how confident the Haqqani Network remains.
US, Afghan troops beat back Haqqani Network assault on two bases in Khost
Coalition and Afghan troops beat back a complex Haqqani Network assault on two bases in eastern Afghanistan today, killing more than 20 fighters and a senior commander during and after the attack. Two Haqqani Network fighters breached the perimeter of one of the bases before being killed.
The Haqqani Network "simultaneously launched" coordinated attacks on Forward Operating Base Salerno and Forward Operation Base Chapman in the early morning today, the International Security Assistance Force stated in a press release. An unknown number of fighters attacked the bases at 4 a.m. with mortars, rockets-propelled grenades, and small arms fire. The Haqqani Network fighters were wearing US military uniforms during the attack.
The combined Coalition and Afghan force killed 13 Haqqani Network fighters at FOB Salerno, four of whom were wearing suicide vests, and six more at FOB Chapman, ISAF stated. Five others were detained. Afghan police also discovered a car bomb, seven suicide vests, and two recoilless rifles that may have been intended for use in the attack.
Two of the Haqqani Network fighters were killed after breaching the perimeter at Salerno. "Coalition forces had the two insurgents under surveillance and when they cut the fence, a quick reaction force was dispatched to the location where they were killed immediately," ISAF stated.
ISAF air weapons teams later killed a Haqqani Network facilitator known as Mudasir and two other fighters as they fled the scene of the attack. Mudasir, who is also known as Qari Ishaq, was described by ISAF as "a Haqqani Network facilitator for improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers." He "had direct ties to Haqqani Network senior leadership based in Pakistan and was a teacher at a madrassa known to facilitate suicide bombers."
Today's assault on FOBs Salerno and Chapman constitute the latest Taliban assault on major Coalition bases throughout Afghanistan since late spring.
In May, a small team attempted to breach security at Kandahar Airfield after launching a rocket attack on the base, and conducted a suicide assault at the main gate at Bagram Airbase in Parwan province. In June, the Taliban launched an assault against Jalalabad Airfield in Nangarhar province. The Taliban carried out a suicide assault against the Afghan National Civil Order Police headquarters in Kandahar City in July. Three US soldiers were killed in the attack, which included a suicide car bomber and a follow-on assault team. And in early August, the Taliban again conducted a complex attack at Kandahar Airfield. All of the attacks were successfully repelled by Coalition and Afghan forces.
Haqqani Network a main target of Coalition and Afghan forces
Over the past few months, Coalition and Afghan forces have been conducting special operations raids targeting the Haqqani Network and al Qaeda operatives and camps in Khost, Paktia, and Paktika on a near-daily basis. In the past several days, three Haqqani Network fighters were killed and a commander and several fighters were detained during raids in Paktia, Paktika, and Khost.
In mid-June, Afghan and Coalition forces killed "a large number" of Haqqani Network and foreign fighters during a major clash in the Jani Khel district in Paktia, and another 38 as they crossed the provincial border into Musa Khel in Khost. "Arabs, Uzbeks, Turks, and Chechens" were among those killed in the fight in Jani Khel in Paktia.
On Aug. 12, Afghan and Coalition forces killed more than 20 Haqqani Network fighters and detained several more during a raid in the district of Zadran in Paktia. ISAF described the district of Zadran as a "known Haqqani Network safe haven" which is "used to stage attacks into Kabul and the Khost-Gardez pass."
Al Qaeda maintains a strong presence in eastern Afghanistan, according to an investigation by The Long War Journal. In Khost, the presence of al Qaeda and allied groups' cells has been detected in the districts of Besmil, Khost, Mandozai, Nader Shahkot, Sabari, Shamul, Spera, and Terayzai; or eight of Khost's 12 districts.
Al Qaeda operates in conjunction with the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, and the Hizb-i-Islami Guldbuddin network throughout Afghanistan. Frequently, al Qaeda operatives serve as embedded military trainers for Taliban field units and impart tactics and bomb-making skills to these forces. In addition, al Qaeda often supports the Taliban by funding operations and providing weapons and other aid, according to classified military memos released by Wikileaks.
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