Security Force Kills, Captures Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents and detained two suspected insurgents during a security operation in the Kajaki district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province yesterday, military officials reported.

The Afghan-led force was searching for a Taliban facilitator in charge of ordering materials from other Taliban members in Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

The force also found several pounds of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer used to make bombs. After the security force detained and questioned two individuals associated with the ammonium nitrate, several armed insurgents attacked the force. Members of the security force returned fire, killing several of the insurgents.

In other operations in Afghanistan yesterday:

-- A combined force in Baghlan province’s Burkah district detained several suspected insurgents during a search for an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan member who is involved in suicide-attack planning throughout the province.

-- In Baghlan province’s Burkah district, a combined force captured several suspected insurgents during an overnight search for a senior Taliban leader.

-- Based on intelligence reports, a coalition force patrol in Kandahar province’s Zharay district captured a Taliban leader who was an operational-level leader responsible for coordinating and executing movement of lethal aid to insurgents, as well as attacks in Panjwa’i district.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader and one of his associates during a nighttime operation in Kandahar province’s Kandahar City. The leader was actively engaged in imminent roadside bomb attack planning against Afghan security forces in Kandahar City.

-- In Zabul province’s Tarnak wa Jaldak district, a combined force detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban leader who oversees a roadside bomb attack cell and transfers weapons to insurgents.

-- A combined force in Laghman province’s Mehtar Lam district detained two suspected insurgents with ties to the Taliban while searching for a Taliban facilitator who is involved in executions, ambushes and intimidation of Afghan civilians. The force also found roadside bomb-making materials, including mortar base plates, empty munitions casings, two five-gallon hydrogen peroxide containers and mortar casings. They also found several rifles, ammunition and chest racks with loaded magazines.

-- In Paktika province’s Mota Khan district, a combined force detained several suspected insurgents and destroyed roadside bomb-making materials while searching for a Haqqani terrorist network leader who conducts, coordinates and directs roadside bomb attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. During the search, they discovered the individuals hiding 661 pounds of ammonium nitrate and several grenades.

-- In Herat province’s Shindand district, a coalition force patrol seized two 82 mm recoilless rifles, three 82 mm rocket boosters, nine 82 mm mortar rounds, three rocket-propelled grenades, two 40 mm grenades, 99 mortar-propelling charges, and other explosive charges.

--A coalition force patrol in Helmand province’s Nad’ Ali district seized 770 7.62 mm rounds, three rocket-propelled grenades, six grenades, three radios, 21 rifle magazines and seven RPG boosters.

-- In Ghazni province’s Gelan district, a coalition force patrol seized 220 pounds of drugs.

-- Residents in Bamyan province’s Bamyan, Kahmard and Shaybar districts turned in 43 82 mm mortar rounds, 39 mortar fuses, nine 85 mm rockets, 13 82 mm mortar rounds, five 73 mm rockets, 11 81 mm rounds, 36 107 mm type 65 recoilless rifle rounds, 25 82 mm type 65 recoilless rifle rounds, five 75 mm type 52 recoilless rifle rounds, two 105 mm rockets, three anti-personnel mines and 26 boxes of small-arms ammunition. Security forces destroyed the weapons and explosives.

In operations June 18:

-- An Afghan-led force killed several insurgents in Balkh province’s Sholgarah district while conducting a search for a senior Taliban leader who is the Taliban-appointed government official for attacks in the Balkh province’s Chimtal district, and is responsible for directing roadside bomb attacks. While searching for the leader, the force responded to enemy fire, killing several insurgents. The force seized several grenades, machine guns, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with several warheads, bomb components, assault rifles and multiple loose rounds of ammunition.

-- In Faryab province’s Pashtun Kot district, a combined force detained a suspected insurgent and discovered a machine gun, 10 rocket-propelled grenades, 100 14.5 mm rounds, a rifle and a box filled with 7.62 mm rounds.

-- In Zabul province’s Tarnek wa Jaldak district, a combined force captured a Taliban leader who commanded a roadside bomb cell and was directly responsible for several attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He and an associate were detained at a suspected compound along with bomb-making materials.

-- In Helmand province’s Sangin district, a combined force detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a leader directly responsible for planning attacks and coordinating surveillance operations targeting Afghan government officials.

-- Based on intelligence reports, an Afghan-led force in Khost province’s Khost district captured a Haqqani network leader who was responsible for attacks against Afghan security forces and operated as a roadside bomb and weapons facilitator.

-- Led by intelligence reports, a combined force in Paktika province’s Mata Khan district detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani network leader who conducts, coordinates and directs roadside bomb and indirect fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces operating within the district.

-- A combined force detained a suspected insurgent during a security operation in Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district while searching for a Taliban leader who conducts attacks along Highway 1 targeting Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In Baghlan province’s Dahanah-ye Ghori district, an Afghan-led security operation resulted in the death of an insurgent commander and the detainment of several others. When Afghan forces arrived at the site, the individual pointed an assault rifle at them. They reacted and killed the insurgent commander. Four of his associates were detained. A coalition force patrol arrived and recovered wires, weight scales, dismantled cell phones, a voltmeter, other homemade bomb-making materials and various reading material, as well as 882 pounds of ammonium phosphate. Although it is a common fertilizer, no farms are in the area. The Afghan police took custody of the detainees.

-- A combined force in Uruzgan province’s Shahid-e Hasas district found and destroyed 16 rocket-propelled grenades.

-- A combined force seized and destroyed 11 homemade bombs weighing a total of 728 pounds in Ghazni province’s Ghazni district.

-- In Logar province’s Charkh district, a Taliban leader and another insurgent were killed in a precision airstrike. The leader was involved in the coordination and execution of attacks against Afghan government officials within the district. He supported both the Taliban and Haqqani network and was responsible for facilitating and conducting multiple large-scale roadside bomb attacks. After security forces located him in an open area and ensuring no civilians were nearby, an airstrike was conducted. Following the airstrike, the force confirmed the death of the leader and an associate, who was armed with grenades.

-- An Afghan-led force in Balkh province’s Chahar Bolak district captured a Taliban leader who was responsible for roadside-bomb, indirect and direct-fire attacks against Afghan security forces.

-- Led by intelligence tips, a combined force in Helmand province’s Marjah district detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban facilitator who is responsible for assisting in the deployment of roadside bombs, heavy weapons and suicide vests.

-- Based on intelligence reports, an Afghan-led force in Kandahar province’s Kandahar City captured a Taliban leader who was responsible for facilitating the movement of fighters, munitions and roadside bomb supplies in Kandahar City and Zharay district, and also directed a cell of Taliban fighters in the area.

-- A combined force in Kandahar province’s Zharay district captured a Taliban leader and two of his associates. The leader was involved in attacks against Afghan security forces in the Maiwand and Zharay districts.

-- In Zabul province’s Tarnak wa Jaldak district, a combined force detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban leader who directs a roadside bomb attack cell responsible for several attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A coalition force patrol in Ghazni province’s Ghazni district killed several insurgents. Insurgents fired on the patrol and the force returned fire, killing several insurgents. They also seized three rocket-propelled grenades launchers, eight RPGs, seven RPG boosters, two assault rifles, 14 assault rifle magazines, two machine guns, three grenades, three tactical vests and body armor.

-- An Afghan-led force in Khost province’s Sabari district detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani network leader who directs a cell of insurgents and conducts roadside bomb attacks throughout the district.