Officials Confirm Terrorist Leader’s Death

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2010 – Officials from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force today confirmed the death of a Taliban leader killed Nov. 20 in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, military officials reported.

A coalition airstrike killed Noor Mohammad and 12 other insurgents during a Taliban leadership meeting in the province’s Kajaki district, officials said.

Troops on the ground called in the airstrike after several hours of surveillance and reporting numerous armed guards patrolling the area. Mohammad was a bomb facilitator who planned and executed bombing attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials added.

Officials also confirmed the identities of two Taliban leaders captured recently by Afghan and coalition forces.

Tips from local residents led security forces to one of the Taliban leaders Dec. 1 in Ghazni province’s Ab Band district. His fighting cell is responsible for planning and attacking Afghan and coalition forces and is known for planting roadside bombs along public roads, officials reported. The other Taliban leader was captured Nov. 30 in Kandahar province. He allegedly is responsible for trafficking bomb-making materials and narcotics to and from Kandahar and Pakistan.

Also today in Afghanistan, Afghan and coalition forces confiscated two weapons caches.

Troops found six rocket-propelled grenades, four hand-held radios and an automatic rifle with more than 250 rounds of ammunition in Helmand province’s Marja district. Troops also found 12 rockets and various small-arms ammunition during an operation in Kandahar.

In operations yesterday:

-- A partnered Afghan and coalition force killed several insurgents in Helmand province’s Kajaki district. Troops surrounded a compound where a Taliban leader reportedly based his operations. Troops immediately began taking fire from insurgents in the compound. Coalition aviation assets arrived on scene, killing the insurgents. Numerous suspected insurgents were questioned and detained following the firefight.

-- Afghan and coalition forces captured a man in Khost province who provided weapons and ammunition to Haqqani terrorist network fighters. He also led a team of assassins responsible for kidnappings and killings throughout the province’s Sabari district. He and two of his associates were detained.

-- In Kandahar province’s Panjwai district, security forces detained a Taliban logistician responsible for coordinating weapons and munitions transportation throughout the province, along with an associate.

-- In Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district, Afghan and coalition forces captured a Taliban leader responsible for planning and conducting kidnappings there.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained a man in Ghazni province’s Gelan district after initial questioning led security forces to believe he was associated with a known terrorist cell in the district.