ANSF and coalition SOF conduct operations in Deh Chopan

By Spc. Ashley BrownOctober 23, 2011

ANSF and coalition SOF conduct operations in Deh Chopan
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An Afghan National Army Commando pulls security in the Larzab Bowl, Deh Chopan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2011. Afghan Commandos partnered with coalition Special Operations Forces conducted clearing operations in the Larzab Bowl ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ANSF and coalition SOF conduct operations in Deh Chopan
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An Afghan National Army Commando searches a compound in the Larzab Bowl, Deh Chopan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2011. Afghan Commandos partnered with coalition Special Operations Forces conducted clearing operations in the Larzab ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ANSF and coalition SOF conduct operations in Deh Chopan
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An Afghan National Army Commando scans the compound for improvised explosive devices in the Larzab Bowl, Deh Chopan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2011. Afghan Commandos partnered with coalition Special Operations Forces conducted cl... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ANSF and coalition SOF conduct operations in Deh Chopan
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan National Army Commandos patrol near the Larzab Bowl, Deh Chopan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2011. Afghan Commandos partnered with coalition Special Operations Forces conducted clearing operations in the Larzab Bowl to disru... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ANSF and coalition SOF conduct operations in Deh Chopan
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan National Army Commandos pull security in Larzab Bowl, Deh Chopan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2011. Afghan Commandos partnered with coalition Special Operations Forces conducted clearing operations in the Larzab Bowl to disr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ANSF and coalition SOF conduct operations in Deh Chopan
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An Afghan National Army Commando searches a compound in the Larzab Bowl, Deh Chopan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2011. Afghan Commandos partnered with coalition Special Operations Forces conducted clearing operations in the Larzab ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
ANSF and coalition SOF conduct operations in Deh Chopan
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Afghan National Army Commandos patrol near the Larzab Bowl, Deh Chopan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2011. Afghan Commandos partnered with coalition Special Operations Forces conducted clearing operations in the Larzab Bowl to disru... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan- Afghan National Army Commandos, Afghan National Police and coalition Special Operations Forces conducted an operation in the Deh Chopan district, Oct. 16-17.

The operation was aimed at clearing the Larzab bowl to disrupt a known insurgent planning and staging area.

More than 50 males were questioned as the partnered forces began clearing the Larzab bowl after arriving in the district. The intent of the questioning was to identify potential insurgent locations or weapon caches in the area.

Later that afternoon while on a patrol, ANSF and coalition SOF team members received sporadic fire from insurgents; however, no injuries or casualties occurred. The next day, insurgents again engaged ANSF and coalition SOF team members with PKM machine gun and rocket propelled grenade fire before again retreating.

During their patrol, several compounds near the bowl were found to be uninhabited and reinforced with concertina wire.

"These appeared to be insurgent bed down and supply locations as well as fighting positions," said a coalition SOF team member.

Uniforms, RPG primers, batteries, radio components and large amounts of PKM brass were found in the compounds.

After clearing the compounds, the partnered forces proceeded to the bazaar where they were once again engaged by insurgents using PKM and small arms fire, resulting in four enemies killed in action.

The patrol ended in the Kishmarak village where Commandos held an unplanned shura with village elders.

"The villagers claimed that they forced the insurgents to leave their village, and that the fighters were still in the hills," said a coalition SOF team member.

During the shura Commandos reiterated the Afghan government's dedication to the security of the people of Afghanistan.

In addition to the four enemies killed in action, two persons of interest were detained by the ANP and one radio was recovered during the operation.

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