Forces in Afghanistan Detain Taliban Attack Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2011 – Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban attack leader along with several other suspected insurgents in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province yesterday, military officials reported.

The detained militant was based in Kandahar City and recently had been in Helmand province’s Nad-e Ali district and Kandahar’s Spin Bolak district, as well as in Chaman, Pakistan, officials said.

He also was coordinating attacks on Afghan government officials and coalition forces in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul, officials added.

In other operations yesterday:

-- Afghan and International Security Assistance Force troops detained several insurgents in Zabul province’s Tarnek wa Jaldak district. Coalition forces also found a gas tank, two bags of hashish seeds and about a half pound of pure hashish.

-- In Kandahar province’s Arghandab district, an Afghan police patrol found a jug of homemade explosives and a 155 mm round.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator along with another suspected insurgent during an operation in Khost province’s Jaji Maidan district. The facilitator operated in the province’s Sabari and Khost districts and was responsible for supplying, moving and distributing Haqqani insurgents in the area to conduct bombing attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

-- Afghan and coalition forces seeking a Taliban leader detained a suspected insurgent in Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district. The wanted Taliban leader is responsible for kidnappings, weapons facilitation and attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said, and reportedly has been active in purchasing weapons and explosives for bombing attacks.

-- In Ghazni province’s Ghazni district, Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban facilitator along with another suspected insurgent. The facilitator was responsible for selling weapons to other Taliban insurgents in the area, was associated with other arms dealers and Taliban operatives, and reportedly purchased ammunition and grenades from an associate for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained several Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin terrorist network facilitators and numerous other suspected insurgents during a security operation in Khost’s Sabari district. One operated out of Sabari district, where he instructed other insurgents in building roadside bombs and transferred weapons for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The others were responsible for planting roadside bombs.

In Feb. 13 operations:

-- Based on intelligence reports and tips from local residents, a combined Afghan and ISAF patrol killed a several insurgents and detained a suspected insurgent in an operation targeting a weapons facilitator in Helmand’s Musa Qalah district. The targeted man is directly involved in the facilitation of suicide-bomber vests and other weapons, including rockets, used to target Afghan and ISAF forces, officials said. The combined force found and destroyed three assault rifles and associated ammunition at the scene.

-- Five insurgents were killed and two others were wounded in a combined Afghan National Army and ISAF operation in Helmand’s Kajaki district. The partnered force found two assault rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade and a hand-held radio during the operation.