Combined Force Kills Insurgents in Wardak

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed two insurgents, including a Taliban leader, and detained another suspected insurgent in the Sayed Abad district of Afghanistan’s Wardak province yesterday, military officials reported.

Abdul Baqi commanded a Taliban cell that conducted roadside-bomb attacks and set up illegal roadblocks targeting Afghan forces along Highway 1. Reports indicated he was gathering intelligence for suspected attacks targeting Afghan government employees, officials said.

After tracking Baqi to the Sayed Abad district, the combined force searched two compounds. Two armed insurgents tried to flee while the force was securing the first compound. A pursuit ensued, and the force killed them, discovering later that Baqi was one of them. The force detained a suspected insurgent nearby.

In other operations yesterday:

-- In Baghlan province’s Doshi district, a combined force acting on intelligence information killed several armed insurgents during an operation targeting the Taliban’s senior military commander for Kunduz province and former commander for the Chahar Darah district.

-- A combined force in Helmand province’s Nahr Surkh district detained more than 10 insurgents during a search for a senior Taliban military commander for the Panjwai district of Kandahar province. The force found 70 pounds of heroin and detained the suspects after Afghan members of the force interviewed people in the area.

-- Also in Helmand province, a separate force detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban narcotics and weapons dealer.

-- In Helmand’s Nahr-e Saraj district, a coalition airstrike killed several insurgents who attacked a combined patrol.

-- A combined patrol in Kandahar’s Panjwai district found 1,200 pounds of marijuana.

-- In Kandahar’s Arghandab district, a combined patrol found two 82 mm recoilless rifles, two pressure plates with wires, 400 7.62 mm rounds and a large rocket, and detained two suspected insurgents.

-- In Khost province’s Sabari district a combined force captured a Haqqani terrorist network attack facilitator and another suspected insurgent.

– A combined force acting on intelligence tips in Paktia province’s Zurmat district detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani network leader who manages fighters, executes tactical insurgent operations and plans attacks against Afghan forces.

-- In Nangarhar province’s Khugyani district, an Afghan-led combined force detained several insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader involved in roadside-bomb attacks targeting Afghan forces. The force found and destroyed 15 pounds of wet opium.

In May 21 operations:

-- A combined force acting on intelligence information killed an insurgent and detained two others during an operation in Ghazni province’s Rashidan district. The insurgent, who was wearing a chest rack and was armed with an assault rifle and grenades, was killed as he opened fire on the force.

-- In Baghlan province’s Baghlan-e Jadid district, a combined force acting on intelligence information detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin terrorist organization leader who commands 20 insurgents for attacks against Afghan forces.

-- A combined force acting on intelligence reports in Helmand province’s Marja district detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader who plans attacks on Afghan forces and reportedly has threatened civilians in the district with murder to intimidate them.

-- In Zabul province’s Qalat district, a combined force detained numerous suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban roadside-bomb cell leader. The force found bomb-making materials at the scene.

-- A combined force in Logar province’s Pul-e Alam district captured a Taliban facilitator and two of his. The Taliban facilitator also operated in Logar’s Baraki Barak district and Paktia province’s Gardez district, training other insurgents and participating in attacks against Afghan forces. Additionally, he coordinated equipment shipments from Pakistan to insurgents active in Logar, Paktia, and Khost provinces.

-- In Khost province’s Khost district, a combined force captured a Haqqani network roadside-bomb expert and another suspected.

-- A combined force in Khost’s Sabari district detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani network leader responsible for coordinating planting roadside bombs and acquiring weapons for insurgents. The force also confiscated a rocket-propelled grenade, multiple mines and grenades.

-- In Nangarhar province’s Khugyani district, a combined force detained several suspected Taliban insurgents.

-- A combined force in Paktika province’s Giyan district detained two suspected insurgents after searching several buildings in Pir Koti Valley for Taliban activity.

-- Afghan and coalition forces found several weapons caches in Uruzgan province’s Chorah district. The caches included 58 grenades, 13 grenades fuses, four radios, nine radio handsets, propellant and several fuses.

-- In Kandahar province’s Zharay district, a combined force found and destroyed 11,023 pounds of hashish.

-- A three-day combined operation in Helmand province’s Nahr-e Saraj district led to discovery of 33 pressure plates, two assault rifles, 600 7.62 mm rounds, a rocket propelled-grenade launcher, four RPGs, a machine gun, several roadside bombs, two 105 mm rounds filled with homemade explosives and various bomb-making materials. Several suspected were detained.

In May 20 operations:

-- A combined force killed Taliban leader named Alawuddin in Baghlan province’s Talah wa Barfak district, Baghlan province. Alawuddin worked with groups of Taliban fighters to attack Afghan police and coalition forces in efforts to regain terrain the Taliban have lost. Armed with an assault rifle Alawuddin attacked an Afghan member of the security force and was killed as an Afghan soldier identified the hostile threat and engaged him.

-- In Helmand province’s Lashkar Gah district a combined force detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in an intelligence-driven operation.

-- A combine force in Khost province’s Sabari district captured a Haqqani network leader who coordinated fighters for attacks and assisted them in preparing ambushes against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- Also in Khost’s Sabari district, a combined force acting on intelligence information detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani leader who has participated in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and is involved in coordinating planting of roadside bombs.

-- In Paktika province’s Orgun district, a combined Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected Haqqani insurgents during a clearance operation in an area associated with Haqqani activity.

-- A combined force in Badghis province’s Murghab district captured a senior Taliban leader and several of his associates during a security operation yesterday. The insurgent leader is the Taliban’s appointed deputy governing official for operations in the district and also conducted attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.