Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Insurgents, Find Weapons http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2006/20060415_4829.html American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 15, 2006 Afghan and coalition forces killed three insurgents in the Chora district of Uruzgan Province today, and acted on a tip to find a weapons cache, military officials reported. The Chora engagement occurred when five insurgents attacked Afghan National Army and coalition forces with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. The Afghan and coalition forces maneuvered and returned fire. No Afghan or coalition forces were injured. "Coalition members and Afghan National security forces will not allow anti-coalition fighters to terrorize Afghans in the Uruzgan province," said Army Col. Thomas Collins, spokesman for Combined Forces Command Afghanistan. "Local government officials will continue to increase security and provide services for Uruzgan residents." Yesterday, coalition forces in Kunar province were engaged by small-arms fire from an unknown-sized enemy element. They responded with counterbattery artillery fire, killing one insurgent. No coalition injuries were reported in the engagement. Afghan National Army and coalition forces received anonymous tips today that led to the recovery of a weapons cache and a land mine as Operation Mountain Lion continued. The cache, consisting of more than three dozen 82 mm rockets, was discovered in the Pech district of Kunar province. An explosive ordnance disposal team from the coalition's Task Force Spartan was dispatched to destroy it. "The munitions were destroyed to ensure that the safety and security of the Afghan people is maintained," said Army Lt. Col. Michael Forsyth, the task force's effects coordinator. In a second incident, members of the coalition's Task Force Lava received a tip that a land mine was buried in a road in the Chaparhar district of Nangarhar province. "The information we receive helps us to safely remove bombs which ultimately protects the Afghan people and their families from injuries or unnecessary deaths," Forsyth said. Mountain Lion is a part of the Coalition's ongoing offensive operations, which aim to disrupt insurgents' activities, deny them sanctuary and prevent their ability to resupply. About 2,500 Afghan and coalition forces are participating. (Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news releases.)