Forces Capture Militants, Seize Weapons, Drugs

American Forces Press Service

March 12, 2010 - Afghan and international forces killed one insurgent, detained 16 suspected militants and seized enemy weapon stockpiles in recent operations in Afghanistan. An Afghan-international security force captured a Taliban facilitator today who is believed to be responsible for roadside-bomb attacks in Kandahar province's Zharmi district, along with two other suspects.

In Paktika province's Zurmat district last night, a combined force captured a Taliban subcommander responsible for participating in attacks against coalition forces, executing Afghan citizens and conducting battle-damage assessments after Taliban attacks. The assault force also captured two other insurgents and recovered multiple automatic rifles, grenades, ammunition and explosives.

In the Garm Ser district of Helmand province today, a combined patrol found three bags of opium weighing 10 to 20 pounds each, a bag of hashish, a 105 mm shell and more than 200 yards of command wire. The force apprehended the suspected insurgent in possession of the cache.

In the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand today, a combined force found six rocket-propelled grenades, a pressure plate detonator and 400 rounds of small-arms ammunition.

In the Chorah district of Uruzgan province yesterday, a combined patrol found 12 illumination artillery rounds and five mortar casings.

Afghan soldiers working with International Security Assistance Force members arrested three suspected insurgents March 10 in the Khashroad district of Nimroz province.

In a separate operation that day in Kandahar's the Jharai district, Afghan soldiers forces captured two insurgents who had been under surveillance for several weeks.

Also on March 10, Afghan soldiers killed an insurgent and captured four others in Wardak province's Maidan district. They recovered a rifle, a pistol and small-arms ammunition.

No Afghan civilians were harmed during these operations, officials said.

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