American Forces Press Service



WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2005  - Nine militants were killed and six others captured Dec. 6 during joint Afghan and U.S. combat operations northwest of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, officials reported today.



One rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, one RPG round, one assault rifle, and several magazines of ammunition were captured during the operation.



The Afghan and U.S. patrol came under fire from a nearby ridgeline while conducting offensive operations to locate enemy forces and to prevent their operations, officials said. Close-air support was called to the scene. Afghan and U.S. forces then maneuvered on the ridgeline, forcing the enemy to flee the area. There were no Afghan or U.S. casualties in the operation.



"This is a resounding victory for Afghan forces and another reminder to the enemies of this nation that that their actions will not be tolerated," said Army Brig. Gen. Jack Sterling Jr., Combined Joint Task Force 76 deputy commanding general. "Afghan and coalition forces are going to continue to bring the fight to the enemies of Afghanistan no matter where they are, no matter where they are trying to hide."



Elsewhere, Afghan and coalition forces attacked an enemy cell in a small village north of Kandahar on Dec. 4, killing 13 enemy fighters who were reportedly responsible for a number of improvised explosive device attacks in southern Afghanistan, officials said.



Three Afghan, three U.S. and two other coalition soldiers were wounded in the fighting. A seriously wounded soldier was evacuated to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, where he's reportedly in stable condition. The remaining seven soldiers have been treated and released, officials said.



"This is a resounding victory for Afghan forces and for the Afghan people," Sterling said. "We located and closed with the enemies of this nation and, as we have said we would in the past, brought them to justice. The nation and the people of Afghanistan are moving toward a better, brighter future."



In the air war over Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 24 close-air-support missions in support of coalition and Afghan troops and reconstruction activities.



U. S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts and British Royal Air Force GR-7 single-seat Harriers provided close-air support to coalition forces in contact with enemy troops near Deh Rawood, Gereshk and Oruzgan. The A-10s fired rockets to mark target positions and strafed the enemy. The GR-7s released general-purpose bombs and rockets, officials said.



In addition, four Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Royal Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a nontraditional ISR role.



(Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan and U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward news releases.)