Coalition Troops in Afghanistan Detain Four Insurgents

American Forces Press Service

Feb. 17, 2008 - Four suspected insurgents were detained yesterday by coalition troops in Afghanistan during an operation to disrupt Taliban leadership networks in Zabul province, military officials said. Coalition forces performed a search of compounds in Qalat district targeting a Taliban leader linked to anti-government operations in the area. While conducting their search, coalition forces found and detained four individuals with suspected links to insurgent networks, including one identified as a mid-level Taliban leader. The detained individuals will be questioned on their involvement in Taliban operations as well as other illegal activities.

"Coalition forces are systematically depleting the Taliban's cadre of experienced leaders to the benefit of the Afghan people and the positive progress of Afghanistan," said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a coalition forces spokesman.

In other news, Afghan citizens have supplied information leading to the recovery of several weapons caches during the past week in Nangarhar province's Kot and Khogyani sectors.

The largest cache was discovered Feb. 14 near Shamakalay Village, Khogyani district. This cache included a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, eight rocket-propelled grenade rounds, five rocket-propelled grenade boosters, two hand grenades, a mortar fuse and a stockpile of 25 mm ammunition.

Another weapons cache was found Feb. 12 in Kailoaghu, Khogyani district. This cache consisted of two anti-personnel mines, a hand grenade, and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher in good condition.

Afghan security forces, assisted by coalition forces, found a suspected insurgent weapons cache near Laghurji Village, Kot district, Feb. 8. That cache contained 10 anti-tank mines, three 60 mm mortar rounds and two 82 mm mortar rounds.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)