Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Insurgents, Find Weapons

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2010 – Afghan and coalition forces killed and detained several insurgents in operations today throughout Afghanistan, military officials reported.

Several insurgents were killed in a coalition air strike in Helmand province’s Kajaki district. Troops were conducting a routine patrol in the area when insurgents opened fire. The security force took cover and returned fire. Troops called in the air strike once they were certain of the enemy fighters’ location.

Another coalition air strike in Kunar province’s Darah-ye Pech district killed numerous insurgents after security forces spotted several armed men in the area. Troops requested coalition air support, determined the insurgents were a threat and gave the order to engage their position.

Afghan and coalition forces today also detained several suspected insurgents linked to stockpiles of weapons and drugs.

In Uruzgan, Farah and Paktika provinces, troops seized 2,300 pounds of homemade explosives, 992 pounds of hashish, 27 rocket-propelled grenades and warheads, 11 hand grenades, 10 gallons of hydrochloric acid, three assault rifles and various bomb-making materials.

In operations yesterday:

-- Afghan and coalition forces killed several armed insurgents and detained 10 more in Khost province’s Terayzai district. Troops were searching for a Haqqani network leader in the area when a group of insurgents began shooting at the patrol. Troops returned fire, killing the insurgents. The patrol continued to their target’s reported location. Several suspected insurgents were detained at the location without incident.

-- Also in the province’s Terayzai district, security forces captured a known Haqqani leader and several other suspected insurgents. Tips from local residents led security forces to the leader’s location. Troops searched the building and detained the insurgents without incident.

-- In Khost’s Bak district, Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani leader responsible for trafficking bombs and homemade explosives. Troops detained the suspects without incident.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban leader and several other suspected insurgents in Zabul province. The Taliban leader is reportedly responsible for trafficking roadside bombs and other weapons. Troops arrived at his location and detained the men without incident.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban leader and two other suspected insurgents in Kandahar province. The Taliban leader is believed to coordinate attacks on security forces. The three were detained without incident.

In operations Dec. 18:

-- Afghan and coalition forces killed more than 20 insurgents, including Taliban leaders in Kapisa province’s Tagab district. Security forces were patrolling the area when insurgents opened fire. Troops returned fire and requested close air support, killing the insurgents. A follow-on search of the insurgents’ fighting positions led to the capture of several more suspected insurgents.

-- In Kunduz province’s Sahib district, security forces killed and detained several insurgents. Troops were searching for a Taliban leader responsible for planning attacks against Afghan government buildings and Afghan and coalition troops. The force arrived at the leader’s alleged location, and immediately received gunfire. Troops returned fire, killing several insurgents. Troops searched the building after the attack and detained the suspects.

-- A coalition air strike killed several insurgents in Nangarhar province’s Sherzad district. Afghan and coalition forces tracked an insurgent bombing cell to the district and observed them planting roadside bombs. Troops requested close air support and killed the insurgents. The troops recovered a 40-pound bomb and bomb-making material, and estimate that at least three insurgents were killed.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban leader connected to a suicide-bombing network in Kandahar. Troops found the leader in the province’s Panjwa’i district. He was taken into custody without incident.

-- Afghan and coalition forces found several weapons and drug caches throughout Afghanistan. The weapons stockpiles included more than 80 various mortars and rockets, 36 rocket-propelled grenades and bomb-making materials. The drugs caches included 250 pounds of poppy seeds, 100 pounds of liquid opium, 30 pounds of heroin and 15 pounds of marijuana seeds.

-- Officials from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force confirmed the identity of a senior Taliban leader killed in a coalition air strike in Nangarhar. Qari Hijratullah Nabi planned car bombings against security forces in the region. Tips from local residents led Afghan and coalition forces to his location where he was found planting roadside bombs and was killed on the spot.