Precision Air Strike Conducted After Attack
Precision Air Strike Conducted After Attack
 ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan 2010-08-CA-303  
KABUL, Afghanistan (Aug. 28) - Coalition forces conducted a precision air strike on a truck occupied by three Haqqani Network fighters after they attempted to attack Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khost province today.   Mudasir, a Haqqani Network facilitator for improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers, was killed in the strike along with two additional insurgents. Mudasir, who is also known as Qari Ishaq, had direct ties to Haqqani Network senior leadership based in Pakistan and was a teacher at a madrassa known to facilitate suicide bombers.   Sources tracked the vehicle from the vicinity of FOB Salerno and after verifying insurgent activity and ensuring no civilians were present, an air weapons team engaged the vehicle, which subsequently exploded. A follow-on ground force confirmed the three insurgents were killed in the engagement.   Afghan and coalition forces killed 13 Haqqani Network insurgents, four of which were wearing suicide vests, as they attempted to attack FOB Salerno early this morning. Afghan and coalition forces also detained five insurgents and destroyed a recoilless rifle at the scene. No Afghan or coalition forces were killed in the attack.   "The Haqqani Network and their fellow insurgents have failed to cause significant damage or casualties on any of their attempted attacks on coalition bases over the last several months," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. "These insurgents will be held responsible, which was evident in this strike."