Coalition Forces in Afghanistan Kill, Detain Insurgents

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 24, 2008 - Several insurgents were killed and nine suspected insurgents were detained yesterday as coalition forces conducted an operation to degrade Taliban command-and-control networks in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, military officials reported. Coalition forces searching several compounds in Ghazni district for a Taliban commander associated with suicide bombings were met with small-arms fire. They returned fire, using a combination of small-arms and aerial-delivered conventional munitions, killing several insurgents.

The coalition forces found and detained nine individuals when they continued their search of the area. The detainees will be questioned on their involvement in facilitation operations as well as other extremist activities, officials said.

Coalition forces also found and destroyed a cache of explosives to prevent further their use by extremist forces.

"We're continuing to degrade insurgents' ability to effectively manage their forces, paving the way for a stable, secure environment for the people of Afghanistan," said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman.

(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)