Force Repels Attack on Reconstruction Team in Herat

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2011 – Afghan and coalition forces repelled an attack on the provincial reconstruction team headquarters in the Herat district of Afghanistan’s Herat province yesterday, military officials reported.

Several insurgents attacked the team’s headquarters with a vehicle-borne bomb and small-arms fire. Afghan and coalition forces returned fire, killing several insurgents.

Several coalition service members were wounded during the attack and were evacuated to a medical facility, officials said.

In other operations yesterday:

-- A combined force in Paktia province’s Zurmat district killed an insurgent and detained several others while searching for a Haqqani terrorist network leader who manages fighters and supplies, executes tactical guidance and plans attacks against the Afghan army. The force also seized 26 anti-personnel mines, a shotgun, multiple pistols and chest racks.

-- A combined force detained two suspected insurgents in Kunduz province’s Chahar Darah district during an operation to capture a Taliban leader who facilitates foreign suicide bombers, including Chechens and Pakistanis, throughout the province.

-- A combined force in Kandahar province’s Spin Boldak district detained several suspected insurgents while targeting a Taliban facilitator responsible for coordinating attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The force also seized and destroyed 100 pounds of heroin.

-- In Khost province’s Sabari district, a combined force detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Haqqani leader who coordinates attacks against the Afghan army.

-- Also in Khost province, an Afghan-led force in the Musa Khel district detained a suspected insurgent while looking for several Haqqani leaders responsible for attacks against Afghan security forces and fighter facilitation.

In operations May 29:

-- A combined force in Khost province’s Sabari district captured a Haqqani network facilitator responsible for the transfer of weapons and explosives in preparation for Haqqani attacks. He also coordinated homemade-bomb attacks targeting Afghan security forces. The force also found an assault rifle, a pistol, multiple chest racks and ammunition.

-- A combined force in Balkh province’s Chahar Bolak district detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader who prepares attacks against Afghan security forces using explosive devices, mines and conventional weapons.

-- A combined force in Imam Sahib district detained several insurgents while targeting a Taliban facilitator who supports an insurgent attack cell throughout central and northern Kunduz province. The network he supports consists of insurgents directly involved in homemade-bomb and suicide-bomber attacks against Afghan government officials and security forces.

-- A combined force in Helmand province’s Musa Qaleh district detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader who is the key commander in the district, providing tactical direction, logistical support and command oversight for insurgents in that area. He also is involved in weapons and explosive-device facilitation, homemade-bomb attacks and funding procurement for the Musa Qaleh-based insurgency.

-- A combined force in Uruzgan province’s Deh Rawud district detained a man and seized 320 pounds of opium, 44 pounds of hashish, 1,654 pounds of ammonium nitrate – a banned fertilizer used in making explosives -- and an assault rifle.

--Combined forces in central Helmand province detained three men, and seized 657 pounds of opium and 176 pounds of wet opium.

-- A combined force in Paktika province’s Bermel district detained several suspected insurgents in an area historically known as an insurgent facilitation and training center.

-- A combined force in Paktia province’s Zormat district detained several suspected insurgents during an operation to capture a Haqqani leader who manages fighters, executes tactical insurgent operations and plans attacks against Afghan security forces.

-- A combined force in Nangarhar province’s Khugyani district detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban facilitator responsible for planting roadside bombs targeting security forces.

-- A combined force in Wardak province’s Chak district detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban leader who participated in and coordinated attacks against security forces, and who also coordinates training for subordinate Taliban insurgents. The force also found and destroyed a rocket-propelled grenade, mortar round, grenade, chest rack and multiple rounds of small-arms ammunition.

In operations May 28:

-- Several insurgents were killed and an insurgent was detained in Kunduz after an attempt to ambush Afghan local police candidates. Insurgent forces attacked the candidates with small-arms fire, indirect fire and rocket-propelled grenades as they traveled to their scheduled training, officials said. The Larkhabi Afghan local police and U.S. special operations forces elements responded to the ambush with indirect fire. Afghan commandos and other Special Forces elements arrived and surrounded the insurgents. As a result of the attack, one student died and seven others were wounded. The commandos seized five assault rifles and a machine gun.

-- A combined force in Khost province’s Musa Khel district killed a woman armed with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and detained several suspected insurgents while clearing a compound associated with a Hezb-E Islami Gulbuddin terrorist organization leader for insurgents in the Qalandar and Musa Khel districts. The force also found multiple RPG warheads, grenades and a bag filled with 7.62 mm rounds.

-- A combined force in Balkh province’s Chimtal district detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a senior Taliban leader who is the province’s Taliban-appointed insurgent security chief. He leads 10 to 18 fighters and conducts small-arms, indirect-fire and homemade-bomb attacks against Afghan police. The leader also is involved in weapons and explosives procurement and narcotics trafficking. The force also found and destroyed 50 pounds of unprocessed heroin.

-- In Zabul province’s Shah Joy district, a combined force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation to target a Taliban leader who leads a core group of insurgent fighters augmented by al-Qaida-associated foreign fighters assembled in Quetta, Pakistan.

-- A combined force in Zabul province’s Zurmat district detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani leader who manages fighters, executes tactical insurgent operations and plans attacks against Afghan security forces.

-- In Kandahar province’s Zharay district, a combined patrol found 4,409 pounds of marijuana.

-- In Kandahar province’s Kandahar district, a combined force found a 60 mm mortar round, a 120 mm mortar round, an RPG and 10 60-gallons bags filled with homemade explosive materials.

-- In Kandahar province’s Zharay district, a combined patrol found three victim-operated homemade bombs and a large amount of bomb-making materials.

-- A combined force in Khost province’s Sabari district detained two suspected insurgents during an operation to target a Haqqani leader involved in homemade-bomb and direct attacks against the Afghan army.

In operations May 27:

-- During an operation in Khost province’s Manduzai district, a combined force killed Mohammad Umar, a Haqqani network facilitator responsible for supplying Haqqani insurgents with weapons, ammunition and explosives. The force also detained two suspected insurgents.

-- In Sar-e Pul province’s Sar-e Pul district, a combined force killed several Taliban insurgents and detained two others while searching for a senior Taliban leader who is the Balkh province’s Taliban-appointed deputy governor and organizes attacks against Afghan security forces. He also coordinates homemade-bomb acquisition, construction and emplacement, and facilitates small-arms purchases, transport and employment. The force also found and destroyed several rocket-propelled grenades and boosters, assault rifles and chest racks.

-- A combined force in Kunduz province’s Imam Sahib district detained a suspected insurgent during an operation to target a Taliban leader who facilitates transportation of homemade-bomb components and directs bomb emplacement targeting Afghan security forces. He also supports Taliban and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan networks.

-- In Helmand province’s Musa Qalah district, a combined force detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader who is the district’s key commander and provides tactical direction, logistical support and command oversight for insurgents in the area. He also is involved in homemade-bomb and weapons facilitation and attacks against security forces, and provides funding to insurgency in the district.

-- In Zabul province’s Shah Joy district, a combined force detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader who commands fighters and facilitators in the district, coordinates Taliban activities and supports homemade-bomb cells throughout the province.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force in Kandahar province captured a Taliban leader and facilitator and several suspected insurgents during operations in Panjwai district and Kandahar city. The facilitator was responsible for weapons acquisition and was involved in direct attacks against security forces. In nearby Panjwai district, an Afghan-led security force searched for a Taliban leader in a compound in the district.

-- In Paktika province’s Orgun district, a combined force captured several suspected insurgents and a Haqqani network facilitator who provides facilities and bed-down locations for insurgent fighters while they coordinate future attacks in the district.

-- In Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district, a combined force detained several suspected insurgents and found weapons while searching for two Taliban leaders. One of the leaders is responsible for facilitating weapons, coordinating attacks and conducting attacks against Afghan forces. The other leader is responsible for recruiting new fighters, coordinating attacks against Afghan security forces and facilitating the movement of weapons. The force found homemade bomb-making materials, a 107 mm rocket and an assault rifle.