Thursday, February 04, 2010

Force Captures Taliban Leader, Seizes Weapons

American Forces Press Service

Feb. 4, 2010 - A combined Afghan and international security force captured a Taliban leader and seized multiple weapons in Afghanistan yesterday, military officials reported.

The force searched a series of compounds around the village of Saleh Kheyl in Ghazni province's Jaghatu district after intelligence confirmed militant activity there. The force captured a Taliban sub-commander and another insurgent responsible for conducting homemade-bomb attacks and ambushes against Afghan and international troops. The force also found multiple weapons.

In Helmand, a combined security force searched a vehicle northwest of Marjah in Nad Ali district after intelligence indicated militant activity there. The force discovered several AK-47 assault rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, several RPG rounds, handheld radios and a machine gun. The force detained the men in the car for further questioning.

Meanwhile, an International Security Assistance Force patrol discovered bomb-making materials in the Maiwand district of Kandahar province. The force found numerous homemade blasting caps, detonation cord, batteries, wire and a mortar round. The items were destroyed at the site.

Elsewhere, an Afghan civilian turned in four 81 mm mortar rounds in Kandahar province's Arghandab district.

An Afghan-led team also confiscated three AK-47s, three grenades, 1,000 machine-gun rounds, RPG boosters and assorted bomb-making materials including wire, batteries and electronic components. The team also discovered about 1,500 pounds of suspected ammonium nitrate fertilizer, which recently was banned because of its potential for use in bombs, and 50 pounds of black-tar opium.

No civilians were harmed and no shots were fired in any of these operations.

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

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