Combined Force Kills Insurgents in Helmand Province

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2010 – A partnered Afghan and International Security Assistance Force patrol yesterday killed several insurgents and detained several others during an operation to detain a Taliban leader in the Nad-e Ali district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province, military officials reported.

Multiple intelligence reports and tips from local residents led the combined force to the suspected Taliban leader’s compound. The Taliban leader is responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of numerous small-arms and bombing attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

Two armed insurgents were killed when they threatened the security force. Another suspected insurgent was killed when he moved in an aggressive manner toward the security forces, failing to obey numerous voice commands and warning shots from Afghan forces.

The security force found and destroyed several automatic weapons, assorted ammunition and a handgun. Several men were detained after they tested positive for recently handling explosives, and they were turned over to Afghan security forces for questioning.

In other news from Afghanistan:

-- An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator for weapons, fighters and equipment used in attacks, along with more than 10 of his associates, during an overnight operation in Khost province’s Sabari district. The security force found automatic weapons, a machine gun, a pistol, grenades, a silencer and various types of ammunition at the scene.

-- In southern Kandahar province, a combined force targeting a Taliban leader for a Tarnek wa Jaldak district cell that conducts roadside-bomb attacks along the heavily traveled Highway 1 detained two suspected insurgents during an intelligence-driven overnight operation.

-- Coalition forces conducted a precision air strike in Khost province yesterday, targeting a Haqqani leader who coordinates and conducts attacks using rockets, mortars, recoilless rifles and machine guns. He also was responsible for a recent ambush using a house booby-trapped to explode, targeting Afghan and coalition forces in the province’s Sabari district. Coalition forces tracked the leader to a remote area and conducted the air strike, killing one insurgent, after verifying insurgent activity and carefully planning to avoid civilian causalities. A follow-on ground assessment turned up multiple automatic weapons and a pistol at the scene.

-- Afghan and ISAF forces took charge of a Taliban leader after he turned himself in at an ISAF base in Logar province’s Pul-e Alam district Nov. 1. The Taliban leader planned, coordinated and executed bombing attacks against Afghan and ISAF forces and also facilitated weapons, suicide bombers and roadside bombs in Logar, Wardak and Kabul provinces. He also allegedly worked with other Taliban leaders in planning, coordinating and executing attacks in Kabul city. With the support of local elders and after assessing the current environment, the Taliban leader decided to turn himself in, officials said.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition patrol found a weapons cache in Kandahar province’s Shah Wali Kot district yesterday. While conducting a presence patrol, the combined force came under rocket fire from insurgents on nearby high ground. The joint security patrol returned fire using air and ground assets. After the firing stopped, the security force moved to and occupied the deserted insurgent firing positions. Acting on tips, the force moved to a nearby compound, where they found and destroyed numerous roadside-bomb initiation devices, bomb components, grenades, detonators, machine-gun ammunition, ball bearings and automatic weapons.

Afghan and coalition forces protect any women and children present during their operations, officials said.