Forces Kill, Detain Insurgents in Baghlan Province

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2011 – Combined forces killed several Taliban fighters and detained numerous other suspected insurgents in an operation yesterday in the Dahanah-ye Ghori district of Afghanistan’s Baghlan province, military officials reported.

Troops were working to clear an alleged Taliban safe haven. They detained two suspected Taliban fighters and were preparing to search another compound in the area when they came under enemy fire. Troops returned fire, killing their attackers, and then continued searching several other compounds, officials said.

In other operations yesterday in Afghanistan:

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader responsible for coordinating insurgent attacks in Zabul province’s Shah Joy district.

-- Security forces in Khost province’s Sabari district captured several suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani network terrorist weapons trafficker.

-- Also, in Khost province’s Sabari district, troops captured a Haqqani network terrorist linked to several attacks on security forces.

-- Forces detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader responsible for facilitating insurgent attacks with weapons and equipment in Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district.

-- In Nangarhar province’s Chaparhar district, forces captured several suspected insurgents, including a Taliban leader tied to recent attacks and terrorist financing.

-- Security forces detained two suspected insurgents in Logar province’s Pul-e Alam district, while clearing a reported Taliban safe haven used to build bombs and stage insurgent attacks.

In operations May 1:

-- Forces captured several suspected terrorists, including a senior Taliban leader responsible for leading 60 fighters in Baghlan province’s Baghlan-e Jadid district.

-- Combined forces in Kandahar province found stockpiles of weapons and drugs, including 3,000 pounds of marijuana, 11 hand grenades, liquid opium and an assault rifle. A man suspected of being associated with the stockpiles was detained.