Sunday, December 06, 2009

Force Detains Militants, Targets Commander

American Forces Press Service

Dec. 4, 2009 - A combined force detained several suspected militants and members of the International Security Assistance Force targeted a Taliban commander in Afghanistan in recent days, military officials reported. An Afghan-international security force detained several suspected militants in Afghanistan's Kandahar province today after searching a compound known to be used by a Taliban operative.

The force searched the compound near the village of Nurayo Kariz, about 10 miles northeast of Kandahar City in Arghandab district, without incident and detained the militants, including the suspect. No shots were fired, and no one was injured.

Meanwhile, international forces targeted a Taliban commander in the Pech district of eastern Afghanistan's Konar province Nov. 26 with a rocket attack, military officials reported.

The man known as Dowron, the Taliban commander of the Pech River Valley, is presumed dead from the attack, officials said.

Dowron was targeted because forces under his command killed and injured many innocent Afghans, as well as Afghan and coalition forces by attacking Afghan polling stations, infrastructure and economic ventures, officials said.

According to reports, Dowron was planning a major offensive on ISAF bases and the Chapa Dara district center in Konar province. The ISAF strike was ordered based on intelligence from multiple sources that Dowron was in a remote area away from major population centers.

The force followed strict guidelines regarding striking enemy targets to ensure minimal civilian casualties, officials said.

The Taliban commander not only was involved in offensives against ISAF forces and bases, propaganda, and coordinated attacks against Afghan forces, but also had ties to multiple al-Qaida members, officials said.

Dowron's tactics included using Afghan civilians as human shields, and he focused his energy on denying Afghans their democratic rights and economic freedom by attacking Afghans during the elections and Afghan businesses.

(From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news release and an ISAF news release.)

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