Forces Kill Insurgents, Detain Taliban Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2011 – Afghan and coalition forces killed two armed militants and detained numerous suspected insurgents, including a Taliban leader, today in the Daman district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, military officials reported.

The Taliban leader is linked to car bombings and assassination attempts of Afghan civilians, government officials and security forces. Tips from local residents led troops to his location, where one armed militant brandished a weapon and tried to flee. Troops opened fire, killing two militants during the engagement. Security forces also confiscated several small-arms weapons and associated ammunitions.

In other news today throughout Afghanistan:

-- Security forces captured two suspected insurgents, while searching for a Taliban leader in Baghlan province’s Jadid district. The Taliban leader is linked to the recent assassination of the district governor in nearby Nahrin district.

-- In Khost province’s Sabari district, troops arrested a Hezb-E Islami Gulbuddin terrorist for coordinating attacks on civilians and security forces.

In operations yesterday:

-- Coalition troops killed several armed insurgents using small-arms fire and precision airstrikes after seeing them maneuvering toward a historic insurgent fighting position in Helmand province’s Reg-e Khan Neshin district.

-- A coalition air weapons team killed an enemy fighter and disrupted insurgent activity in Ghazni province’s Andar district with a precision airstrike after spotting a group displaying hostile intent.

-- Security forces found several weapons stockpiles throughout southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province, which resulted in seizure of 1,800 assault-rifle rounds, 14 rocket-propelled grenades, five rocket-propelled grenade warheads and a pistol.