Combined Forces Capture Insurgents Across Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 26, 2010 - Afghan and international forces captured multiple insurgents, including a Taliban cell leader, in operations across five Afghan provinces last night, military officials reported. A combined Afghan-International Security Assistance Force unit searched a compound in a rural area of the Nawa district of Helmand province and captured a Taliban cell leader responsible for improvised explosive attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The assault force also detained a pair of insurgents.

In Kandahar, a combined force searched compounds in western Kandahar City and captured a Taliban operator and other insurgents responsible for weapons movement and coordinating assassinations against Afghan citizens.

In Khost, an Afghan-international force searched a compound in the Wahidullah Bak district after intelligence indicated militant activity there. The force captured a pair of insurgents and found multiple media devices, an automatic rifle, a shotgun and explosive ingredients.

In Logar province, a combined force searched a compound in the Mohammad Agha district and detained several insurgents.

In Nangarhar, a combined force searched a compound in rural Khugyani district, and captured a Taliban operator with direct ties to several militant Taliban networks and other insurgents. A militant was killed when he confronted the force with an imminent threat.

The search uncovered several illegal weapons, including

automatic rifles and grenades. No Afghan civilians were harmed in any of these operations.

Today, an Afghan civilian turned in a cache of weapons to international forces in Badghis province that included six 70 mm rockets and eight 85 mm rockets. Since Oct. 1, more than 150 Afghans have received cash rewards for reporting weapons caches or providing tips leading to the recovery of multiple weapons.

On Jan. 21, international forces killed several armed insurgents in the Pech district of Konar province. Forces identified insurgents maneuvering to a fighting position

previously used to stage attacks against international forces. After positively identifying the insurgents, ISAF forces conducted an air strike on their position.

ISAF follows strict guidelines when engaging in deadly force against confirmed insurgents and their activities, officials said. No civilians were injured, and there have been no reports of damage.

(Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news releases.)