KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and Coalition force encountered resistance and destroyed a known IED cell within a compound, killing three terrorists and destroying the compound with precision air strikes early this morning near the village of Zakur in Ghazni Province.The compound housed improvised explosive device facilitators.
When the combined force attempted to peacefully search the compound and ask residents to come out for questioning, enemy personnel inside the compound began firing and wounded one Coalition solider. The combined force called in close-air support and killed three suspects in the engagement.
During the engagement, a weapons cache blew up within the compound causing extensive damage.
(I love it when that happens.)
When the combined force went back in to do a search of the compound, doors were discovered booby trapped with grenades and RPG rounds, further endangering the combined force and the local civilian residents. Small arms and ammunition chest racks were also discovered strewn around the courtyard.
The combined force determined the area to be too dangerous for further searching. They also assessed the area to be an imminent threat to local civilians due to booby traps and unexploded ordinance. Subsequently, a second precision strike was directed to destroy the explosives in the remaining compound buildings.
(This part warms my heart too.)
Based on credible intelligence, the combined force went to great lengths to ensure local civilians were not endangered.
No women and children were present in the compound, which was only occupied by fighting-age males.