Forces Detain Suspects in Afghanistan

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

June 8, 2010 - An Afghan-international security force detained multiple suspected insurgents during operations in Afghanistan's Helmand province yesterday.

The combined force detained the men while searching a series of compounds west of Marjah, where intelligence identified militant activity.

Another combined force detained two suspected insurgents as the force tracked a Taliban weapons trafficker in Kandahar province yesterday.

The force detained the suspects at a compound north of the village of Mollakalo Nikeh, Zharay district, based on intelligence. About 100 pounds of wet opium was found on site.

Another combined patrol found three weapons caches in the Tarin Kot district of Uruzgan province yesterday. The cache consisted of 23 rocket-propelled grenades, five 82mm mortar rounds, 17 rocket-propelled grenade fuel cells, 2,000 7.62mm rounds, a number of artillery fuses and a number of weapons parts. The cache was destroyed. No shots were fired and no one was harmed during the above operations.

In other news, Afghan security forces with their NATO International Security Assistance Force partners conducted a June 5 operation south of Rowzeh Bagh, Herat province, to disrupt a Taliban network responsible for supplying improvised explosive device material, weapons and supplies in Helmand province.

After surrounding the compounds where members of the insurgent network were suspected to be, Afghan special police called for the occupants to surrender. One insurgent was killed when he exited a compound and presented an imminent threat with a weapon to the combined force. The combined force ensured the rest of the compound residents exited the compound safely.

Afghan police took possession of the insurgent who was killed, and several men were detained by the combined force. No civilians were injured in the operation.