Combined Force Captures Taliban Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an overnight security operation in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province yesterday, military officials reported.

The leader was responsible for directing insurgents who conduct roadside-bomb and direct-fire attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces.

Intelligence tips led the Afghan-led security force to the leader’s compound.

In other operations in Afghanistan yesterday:

-- Based on residents’ tips, an Afghan-led combined force in Kunduz province’s Imam Sahib district detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban facilitator who works for the Kunduz attack network and is responsible for attacks targeting local Afghan government officials and Afghan security forces.

In operations June 25:

-- International Security Assistance Force officials joined the Afghan president and the minister of interior in condemning separate bombings in Logar and Kunduz provinces.

Initial reports in Logar province’s Arza district indicate that at least 10 Afghan civilians were killed and more than 40 wounded, including women and children, when terrorists attacked a hospital.

In another attack, initial reports indicate as many as 10 Afghan civilians were killed, including five women and a police officer, and more than 24 wounded when a bicycle loaded with explosives detonated at a bazaar in Kunduz province’s Khan Abad district.

“The insurgents have a complete disregard for the innocent people of Afghanistan who are trying to live in peace,” said Rear Adm. Vic Beck, ISAF director of public affairs. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and wounded, and we will not falter in our efforts to work with our Afghan partners to find those responsible and bring them to justice.”

-- A combined force vehicle interdiction operation targeted insurgent-smuggling routes in Kandahar province’s Maiwand district. Several insurgents were killed during the operation. The force attempted to stop a vehicle after they saw it being loaded with several bags from known narcotics sites. Several men fled the area and later returned, attacking the patrol. The force killed several insurgents, and found and destroyed 1,874 pounds of dry opium, 4,000 7.62 mm rounds and 12 loaded assault magazines.

-- In Uruzgan province’s Shahid-E Hasas district, a combined force killed several insurgents and detained a suspected insurgent while searching for an insurgent leader who specializes in command-and-control communications and the manufacture of homemade bombs. Several insurgents engaged the force while they were searching the area. A coalition air weapons team assisted the combined force, killing several insurgents. The force also found four assault rifles, a machine gun, two grenades, 88 pounds of ammonium nitrate, several detonators and 20 loaded assault rifle magazines.

-- Based on intelligence reports, an Afghan-led force in Helmand province’s Lashkar Gah district detained a Taliban leader and killed an insurgent. The leader was appointed as commissioner in charge of transportation, logistics and finance for Taliban leaders and fighters within central Helmand. The force encountered a man with an assault rifle. As he laid down his weapon, another man ran out of the compound carrying a bulky vest. The force engaged the man, killing him. The force identified the vest as a chest rack with multiple assault rifle magazines.

-- Based on tips, an Afghan-led force captured a Taliban leader and one of his associates in Balkh province’s Chimtal district. The leader was responsible for several attacks against Afghan security forces.

-- In Zabul province’s Qalat district, a combined force detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban facilitator responsible for moving weapons, roadside-bomb components and other material through the district.

-- In Kandahar province’s Panjwa’i district, a combined force captured a man with suspected ties to the Taliban while searching for a tactical-level Taliban leader who coordinates and executes direct-fire and roadside-bomb attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- Combined forces captured a Taliban leader and several associates during separate security operations in Helmand province’s Panjwa’i and Nahr-e Saraj districts. The leader was responsible for coordinating and conducting roadside-bomb attacks in Kandahar and Panjwa’i. The forces also found 75 pressure plates, several 107 mm rockets, rocket-propelled grenades, one anti-personnel mine, 231 pounds of homemade explosive and several homemade bomb-making components.

-- Based on intelligence tips, a combined force in Khost province’s Sabari district detained numerous suspected insurgents during a search for a Haqqani terrorist network leader who directs a roadside-bomb attack cell and is heavily involved in the facilitation of weapons and explosives.

-- An Afghan-led combined force in Khost province’s Sabari district detained several people with suspected ties to the Haqqani network while searching for a Haqqani leader responsible for coordinating and conducting attacks against the Afghan army.

-- In Paktika province’s Mata Khan district, a combined force detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Haqqani leader responsible for the acquisition and emplacement of roadside bombs in the district, and also is responsible for attacks targeting Afghan security forces.

-- A combined force in Paktika province’s Gardez district killed several insurgents and detained two people while searching for a Haqqani leader who maneuvers fighters and weapons from Pakistan. The Afghan-led security force was engaged by several insurgents armed with machine guns and assault rifles. After receiving continuous enemy fire, the force returned fire, killing several people.

-- An Afghan-led force in Laghman province’s Dowlat Shah district captured a Taliban leader and several suspected insurgents after being alerted by residents. The leader was responsible for several roadside-bomb and direct attacks targeting Afghan government officials and Afghan security forces.

In operations June 24:

-- A combined force killed several insurgents and destroyed numerous weapons caches in Zabul province’s Daychopan district. The operation occurred in the heart of Daychopan, near Kebay village, a traditional staging area for many of the recent attacks on Afghan and coalition forces stationed in the region, according to a district police official. The Afghan-led force was engaged by small-arms and mortar fire near Kebay village. Later, Afghan force team leaders held meetings with village elders to help communicate the operation’s purpose.

-- A combined force in Kunduz province’s Khanabad district seized 12 anti-personnel mines and 25 pounds of homemade explosives.

-- A combined force patrol in Kandahar province’s Kandahar district found five 60 mm mortar rounds and a hand grenade.

-- In Wardak province’s Maidan Shahr district, a coalition force patrol confiscated five rocket-propelled grenades and an unknown amount of detonation cord.