Partnered Forces Kill Insurgents in Afghanistan

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2010 – A partnered Afghan and coalition security force targeting the head of a Taliban district commission in Afghanistan’s Baghlan province killed multiple insurgents during an intelligence-driven overnight operation, military officials reported.

The targeted man regularly meets with Taliban leadership in the area to plan upcoming attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

As the assault force approached a compound in Baghlan’s Dahanah-ye Ghori district, insurgents fired from multiple directions. The security force returned fire from the ground and air, killing several insurgents. The security force then cleared and secured the targeted compound before questioning residents and detaining a suspected insurgent for further questioning.

Continuous enemy contact prevented the security force from conducting a full assessment after the operation, officials said.

In other news from Afghanistan:

-- An Afghan and coalition security force yesterday captured a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator responsible for moving supplies and bomb-making materials into Kabul province for distribution to foreign fighters and several Haqqani-affiliated networks in Khost province. Based on intelligence reports, the security force targeted a compound in the Shamul district to search for the facilitator and detained him, along with several of his associates.

-- In an overnight intelligence-driven operation in Zabul province’s Shah Joy district, a partnered force detained two suspected insurgents while pursuing a Taliban facilitator who builds, plants and detonates roadside bombs in Zabul province’s Qalat district.

-- International Security Assistance Force officials confirmed the Oct. 25 capture in Kandahar province of a Taliban leader known to build suicide-bomber vests. Intelligence reports led a security force to a compound in the province’s Kandahar district, where they detained the wanted man and an associate.

-- ISAF officials confirmed the death of Faruk, a Taliban leader Afghan and coalition forces had attempted to detain during an Oct. 24 operation to interdict narcotic smuggling in Helmand province’s Reg-e Khan Neshin district. Faruk was responsible for planning and executing numerous attacks against Afghan and ISAF forces, officials said. His proximity to Pakistan and ties to Taliban leaders there enabled him to move weapons and explosives into the area from Pakistan using narcotics as payment, they added. Multiple intelligence sources and tips from local residents led a combined force to a narcotics infiltration route where Faruk was known to operate. The partnered force spotted two armed insurgents on a motorcycle and tried to detain them, but they ditched their motorcycle and fled into dense undergrowth. The security force searched the area and killed an armed insurgent who fired on them. More than 60 pounds of chemicals used to process opium were found on the motorcycle.

-- An Afghan and coalition patrol discovered more than a half ton of homemade explosives in the Zharay district of Kandahar province yesterday. The patrol found 11 roadside bombs, each containing more than 100 pounds of explosives, which an explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed.