Afghan, Coalition Forces Wrap Up Helmand Clearing Operation

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2010 – Afghan and coalition forces in southern Afghanistan completed a three-day deliberate clearing operation today aimed at disrupting the Taliban’s freedom of movement in Helmand province, military officials reported.

The operation focused on an area near the village Kajaki Sofla in the province’s Kajaki district. Several suspected insurgents were detained for questioning.

The combined force encountered enemy contact and returned fire, killing multiple enemy fighters, officials said.

Ongoing enemy contact prevented the security force from conducting battle damage assessments of the engagement areas, but estimated that at least 10 enemy fighters were killed.

In other news from Afghanistan:

-- Numerous insurgents were killed and detained during a combined Afghan and International Security Assistance Force deliberate operation in the Arghistan district of Kandahar province yesterday. The operation lasted more than 18 hours and resulted in more than 15 insurgents killed, 14 detained and numerous weapons, ammunition and explosives confiscated.

-- An ISAF air strike destroyed more than 5 tons of homemade explosives in Helmand’s Reg-e Khan Neshin district yesterday. After intelligence information from multiple sources indicated that the facility, which was destroyed in September, had been rebuilt and was again being used to produce homemade explosives, ISAF forces watched the facility for hours to ensure there were no civilians in the area, and then conducted the air strike. Initial reports indicated no civilians were harmed, officials said.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban foreign fighter facilitator and roadside-bomb expert operating in Farah province yesterday. Intelligence tips helped the security force track the facilitator to an area outside the province’s Bakwah district, where they detained him along with two of his associates.

-- ISAF officials confirmed the capture of a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator for the movement of vehicles and narcotics during a Nov. 5 operation in Paktika province. The security force also detained several of his associates.

-- An ISAF air strike killed numerous insurgents in Helmand’s Now Zad district Nov. 6. The air strike targeted a senior Taliban leader who plans and coordinates attacks against Afghan and ISAF forces. He also facilitates the distribution of bomb components and distributes money to Taliban fighters and is a member of the Now Zad area shadow governance, including oversight of Taliban judicial proceedings. Multiple intelligence sources led to his location. After watching him for several days, ISAF forces conducted the air strike when the leader was in an open area with two other insurgents. Initial reports indicated no civilians were harmed during the operation, officials said.

-- A partnered Afghan and ISAF patrol killed numerous insurgents in Helmand’s Nahr-e Saraj district Nov. 6. Multiple intelligence sources and tips from local residents led the combined force to a compound where a Taliban leader was thought to be located. The Taliban leader is known to plan and participate in planting roadside bombs and attacking coalition forces. He also facilitates the distribution of weapons, ammunition and bombs to Taliban fighters. Four armed insurgents were killed as they attempted to engage the security force. Numerous automatic weapons, grenades and a suicide vest were found and destroyed at the scene, and two suspected insurgents were detained.

-- A combined Afghan and ISAF patrol killed a district-level Taliban leader and another insurgent in Uruzgan province Nov. 6. The Taliban leader was a district-level leader and shadow district chief of Deh Rawud district in Uruzgan province. He planned, coordinated, and resourced all district-level military operations against Afghan and ISAF forces. He directed numerous Taliban cell leaders and was the link between senior-level Taliban leaders in Pakistan and local Taliban insurgents. He also facilitated and directed the distribution of weapons, ammunition, bombs and money. Multiple intelligence sources led the security force to an insurgent meeting site. As the security force arrived, the Taliban leader and an associate tried to flee on a motorcycle, but ran into another element of the security force. The armed insurgents attempted to engage the security force and were killed. During a search of the area, the patrol found two automatic weapons and associated ammunition. Numerous men were detained for questioning.

-- Coalition forces killed several insurgents who were taking up a fighting position in Kunar province’s Darah ye Pech district yesterday. After positively identifying the insurgent position, coalition forces used aircraft and small-arms fire to eliminate the enemy threat. All rounds were reported safe and on target. Initial reports indicated there are no civilian injuries, officials said.

—Also in Kunar yesterday, Afghan soldiers and coalition forces detained 17 Afghans who tried to gain access to a construction site while carrying rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and munitions in the province’s Ghaziabad district. The combined forces checked with the Afghan construction representative, who verified the men did not work for him.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force targeting a Taliban senior leader who commands about 20 fighters in Ghazni province’s Andar and Ghazni districts detained two suspected insurgents during an overnight operation yesterday. The targeted individual regularly fills in for the Taliban district leader for Ghazni when the latter hides in Pakistan, officials said. Based on intelligence tips, the combined force targeted a compound in the Andar district to search for the senior leader and killed a man after he charged at them. The security force detained two suspected insurgents during the operation.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force targeting the Taliban district leader for Wardak province’s Chak-e Wardak district detained a suspected insurgent during an intelligence-driven overnight operation Nov. 6. The assault force also found and destroyed 15 gallons of nitric acid, along with multiple weapons.

-- In Logar province, a combined force targeting a Taliban senior leader who commands at least 20 fighters in the Baraki Barak and Charkh districts detained two suspected insurgents during an intelligence-driven overnight operation Nov. 6.

-- In Khost province, a combined force targeting a Haqqani facilitator who plans and executes attacks in the province’s Sabari and Musa Khel districts detained several suspected insurgents and found multiple automatic weapons at the scene Nov. 6.

-- A partnered Afghan-coalition force targeting a senior Taliban leader who coordinates and conducts attacks in Kandahar province’s Dand and Panjwai districts detained several suspected insurgents during an intelligence-drive overnight operation Nov. 6. The Taliban leader also is responsible for distributing materials to his subordinates in the area.

-- An Afghan and ISAF patrol arrested an insurgent leader and two of his associates in Logar province’s Muhammad Aghah district Nov. 5. The insurgent leader was wanted on an Afghan government warrant for allegedly planning and executing attacks against Afghan and ISAF. He also allegedly participated in the kidnapping of an Afghan civilian who was tortured and killed in retaliation for another insurgent’s death.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force targeting a senior Taliban senior leader who plans, coordinates and conducts attacks in Helmand’s Musa Qalah district detained several suspected insurgents during an intelligence-driven overnight operation iNov. 6.

-- In Zabul province’s Shah Joy district, a combined force targeting a senior Taliban senior leader who operates a roadside-bomb network detained two suspected insurgents in an intelligence-driven operation Nov. 6.

-- In Paktika province, a combined security force targeting a Haqqani facilitator for the movement of vehicles and narcotics in support of the network detained several suspected insurgents Nov. 6.

-- Also in Paktika on Nov. 6, another security force searched in the Zormat district for a Haqqani-affiliated Taliban senior leader who coordinates suicide bombings.

-- ISAF officials confirmed the capture during a Nov. 4 intelligence-driven overnight operation in Ghazni province’s provincial capital of a Taliban facilitator who planned and facilitated suicide-bomber attacks.

Officials said Afghan and coalition forces protected any women and children who were present during the operations.