Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Enemy Fighter in Ghazni

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2011 – Afghan and coalition forces killed an enemy fighter and detained several other suspected insurgents yesterday in the Muqer district of Afghanistan’s Ghazni province, military officials reported.

Troops searching for a Taliban leader responsible for multiple insurgent attacks in the province’s Gelan district arrived where the leader was reported to be and signaled for the occupants to come out peacefully. The insurgents refused and brandished weapons at the troops, resulting in a shootout that left one insurgent dead. A teenager injured in the shooting was taken to a coalition medical facility for treatment.

In other operations yesterday throughout Afghanistan:

-- Two insurgents were injured in Khost province’s Sabari district after a coalition airstrike disrupted their attempt to traffic weapons from a nearby mountain chain. Troops were targeting a Haqqani terrorist network leader who operates in the area when they spotted the weapons traffickers, who were carrying rocket-propelled grenade launchers and other weapons. Officials from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force are investigating the incident to confirm the wounded individuals’ identities and connection to the Haqqani leader.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected insurgents in Khost province’s Sabari district. The suspects allegedly are connected to a Haqqani leader who is responsible for indirect-fire and bombing attacks on local security forces.

-- Security forces detained several suspected insurgents, including a Taliban leader, in Nangarhar province’s Pachir wa Agam district. Intelligence reports tipped coalition forces that the Taliban leader was planning an attack on local security forces. The Taliban leader and other suspects surrendered without incident. Troops also confiscated and destroyed four rocket-propelled grenades, multiple assault rifles and other assorted small-arms weapons and ammunition.

-- In Kandahar province’s Panjwai district, Afghan and coalition forces captured four suspected insurgents, including two Taliban leaders. One leader is responsible for coordinating bombing and indirect-fire attacks on local security forces. The other is connected to several terrorist acts in the province.

-- Afghan and coalition forces found several weapons stockpiles throughout Afghanistan. Operations resulted in the gathering of more than 700 rounds of small-arms ammunition, 42 assorted artillery rounds, 21 hand grenades, nine rocket-propelled grenades, five .50-caliber machine gun rounds, three assault rifles, three land mines, 6 pounds of bomb-making chemicals and various bomb-making materials.