Officials Report No Fatalities in ISAF Helicopter Crash

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2013 – All crew members have been recovered with no reported fatalities following the crash of an International Security Assistance Force helicopter in eastern Afghanistan today, military officials reported.

The scene is secure, and ISAF officials are assessing the circumstances to determine more facts, officials said.

In Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force in Nangarhar province’s Khugyani district arrested a senior Taliban leader believed to manage the recruitment, training and movement of insurgents for attacks against Afghan government officials and Afghan and coalition forces. He also is believed directly associated with several Taliban insider-attack insurgents and to have worked closely with Hezb-e-Islamic Gulbuddin leadership. He is accused of having taken advantage of his village leadership position to recruit suicide bombers and insider-attack facilitators from a local high school. The security force also detained another suspected insurgent.

-- In Helmand province’s Nad-e Ali district, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader believed to be directly responsible for numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He provided guidance to insurgents and regular updates to Taliban leadership, and he planted roadside bombs, officials said.

-- A combined force in Khost province’s Sabari district arrested a Haqqani network facilitator believed to have supplied insurgents with funds, weapons and equipment to attack Afghan and coalition forces. He also is accused of helping to finance the purchase of motorcycles, bomb-making materials, weapons, explosives and fuel to support the insurgency. The security force also detained three other suspected insurgents and seized rifles with associated ammunition.

-- In Logar province’s Pul-e Alam district, a combined force arrested a Haqqani network facilitator believed to be responsible for the acquisition, transfer and distribution of weapons and bomb components for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.