Afghan Forces Detain Suspected Insurgents, Seize Explosives

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

June 11, 2010 - Afghan and international security forces killed or detained numerous individuals suspected of insurgent activity and seized explosives, weapons and other ordnance during several operations conducted across Afghanistan yesterday, military officials said today.

-- Several individuals were detained when a combined Afghan-international force operating in Logar province searched a compound in Padkhvab-e Shaneh, Pul-e 'Alam district, after intelligence information revealed militant activity.

-- Another Afghan-international force used aircraft and ground forces to stop two vehicles and detained multiple individuals suspected of insurgent activity in Zabul province. The security force was pursuing a Taliban commander in the village of Zakuri, Shah Joy district, after intelligence information revealed insurgent activity. The vehicles were stopped without incident, and several women and children in the vehicles were protected.

-- Individuals suspected of insurgent activity were detained by a separate Afghan-international force in Zabul province. The combined force detained two suspected insurgents while searching a compound in the village of Jonubi Garay, Shah Joy district, after intelligence information found insurgent activity.

No shots were fired and no one was harmed during the above operations.

-- Also yesterday, an Afghan-international security force found a large amount of explosives and detained an individual suspected of insurgent activity in Kandahar province. The security force searched a series of compounds near the village of Zarif Kheyl, Zharay district, after intelligence information verified militant activity. A Russian-made anti-aircraft weapon, several artillery rounds used for making improvised explosive devices, completed improvised explosive devices and automatic rifles were found.

-- A number of insurgents were killed and large weapons caches were found by a separate Afghan-international security force during a two-day clearing operation that ended yesterday in Khost province. The operation took place southwest of Kowte Kheyl, Shamul district, after intelligence reports confirmed insurgent activity in an area known for extensive Haqqani network involvement and facilitation. The security force came under fire several times over the course of the operation and returned fire, killing a number of insurgents. Several of the insurgent strongholds were mined with IEDs and precision air strikes were used to eliminate weapon storage areas. The security force also recovered multiple rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds, hand grenades, automatic rifles and IED components.