Afghan Commandos, Coalition Nab Insurgent Commander

American Forces Press Service

Dec. 24, 2008 - Afghan army commandos and coalition forces yesterday captured a suspected insurgent commander believed to be responsible for a deadly bombing in Afghanistan's Baghlan province, military officials reported today. The combined forces nabbed Mullah Dahoud during an early morning raid on a compound in Pol-e-Kohmri, outside of Kabul, reported to be Dahoud's home and a transit point for insurgent fighters.

Dahoud and his insurgent fighters are believed to be responsible for an attack on the Baghlan district headquarters in October that killed Afghan officials and civilians, and for the Fobrica sugar factory bombing in 2007 that killed more than 50 civilians.

"The Afghan commandos captured this murderer," Afghan Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, chief spokesman for the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense, said. "The innocent people affected by this criminal net can now have justice."

Elsewhere, coalition forces killed four armed militants while targeting a suspected Taliban subcommander in the Shinkai district in southern Zabul province, northeast of Kandahar, officials said.

While attempting to capture the subcommander, militants from inside the building fired on coalition forces. Forces responded with hand grenades, killing the militants.

A search yielded a machine gun, multiple assault rifles, blasting caps and wires used to make roadside bombs, and bandoliers full of ammunition. Forces later destroyed the items.

The subcommander is believed to be in contact with several local senior Taliban commanders, and in control of more than 30 fighters in the region. The militants reportedly coordinated roadside bombings and other attacks against civilians, government officials and coalition forces.

(Compiled from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)