Forces Remove Two Taliban Commanders From Fight

American Forces Press Service

Feb. 11, 2010 - Afghan and international forces captured one Taliban commander and killed another as part of multiple operations across Afghanistan last night, military officials reported. A combined Afghan-international force searched a compound in the Wali Mohammad Shaheed district of Ghazni province after intelligence indicated militant activity there. During the search, the force captured a Taliban commander and another suspected insurgent.

Meanwhile, another combined force using intelligence information stopped a vehicle in north Helmand province's Washer district. As the force approached the vehicle, the driver, who was the sole occupant, drew an AK-47 and pointed at them. The combined force then engaged and killed him. The driver was a Taliban commander responsible for directing attacks, and procuring weapons and explosives for several insurgent networks.

In another operation in Helmand last night, a combined force searched a small compound in a rural area in the Reg-e Khan Neshin district after intelligence confirmed militant activity there. During the search, the force detained several suspected

militants and found several rocket motors.

In other operations last night:

- In Kandahar, an Afghan-international force searched a compound in the Arghandab district after intelligence indicated militant activity there. The force captured a small group of insurgents, including a Taliban subcommander responsible for weapons trafficking and attacks against coalition and Afghan troops. The force found several weapons, including automatic rifles.

- In Khost, a combined force searched a compound in the Sabari district after intelligence found militant activity. The force detained several insurgents and found multiple weapons, including automatic rifles and a large amount of ammunition.

- In Zabul, an Afghan-international force searched a compound in a rural area west of Qalat City after intelligence confirmed militant activity. The force captured a Taliban subcommander involved in small-arms and improvised explosive device attacks on coalition and Afghan troops. The force also recovered multiple weapons, including automatic rifles and pistols.

No Afghan civilians were harmed during the operations.

(From an International Joint Command-Afghanistan news release.)