ISAF Joint Command- Afghanistan
2011-07-S-065
For Immediate Release

SAR ROWZAH DISTRICT, Paktika, Afghanistan (July 22, 2011) – In Sar Rowzah District, Paktika province, security forces, including Afghan special forces, killed more than 50 insurgents during a security clearance of a known Haqqani network foreign fighter encampment site.

The encampment site was a staging area for Haqqani and foreign fighters. These fighters were moved into the country by Haqqani insurgents who planned to use them for attacks throughout Afghanistan.

The Haqqani network has been responsible for several high-profile attacks against the Afghan government and citizens, including the recent Intercontinental Hotel attack in June.

The security force was notified of the Haqqani's training camp location as a result of reports from disenfranchised insurgents.

While conducting the operation, the security force was engaged by multiple groups of insurgents through the night. The insurgents, armed with rocket propelled grenade launchers (RPGs), heavy machine guns, and AK-47 assault rifles, engaged the force from several locations, including cave sites and fortified bunkered fighting positions. The security force responded to enemy fire throughout the night, resulting in more than 30 Haqqani insurgents killed.

The combined force continued to clear the area into the morning and was intermittently engaged by insurgents throughout the day. The force continued to respond to the enemy's armed engagement, employed small arms fire and air strikes to counter the insurgent threat. More than 20 additional insurgents were killed as a result.

In addition to the armaments found on insurgents during the operation, the force also recovered numerous stockpiles of weapons including mortars, RPGs with warheads, PK machine guns with multiple crates of ammunition, AK-47 rifles with magazines, grenades, chest racks, and military gear.

The security force noted no women or children were present during the operation, and initial assessments indicate there was no harm to civilians.