Combined Force Detains Suspects, Seizes Bomb Materials

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2011 – An Afghan-led combined security force detained several suspected insurgents and confiscated roadside bomb materials while searching for a Taliban facilitator in the Khugyani district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province yesterday, military officials reported.

The facilitator assists numerous roadside bomb cells in the district and acts as an information liaison to Taliban leadership. One roadside bomb was confiscated and safely destroyed during the operation.

In other Afghanistan news yesterday:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force detained one suspect while searching for a Taliban leader in the Daman district of Kandahar province. The leader is responsible for attacks against the Afghan army.

-- Also in Kandahar, an Afghan-led force detained three suspects while searching for a Taliban facilitator in the Arghandab district. The facilitator constructs roadside bombs for an attack cell and is also responsible for distributing other weapons in the district.

-- During a security operation in the Kajaki district of Helmand province, an Afghan-led force detained one suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban leader. The leader is responsible for Taliban operations in the Sangin district and coordinates roadside bomb attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In the Zurmat district of Paktiya province, an Afghan-led force captured a Haqqani network leader and one of his associates during an overnight security operation. The detained leader coordinated attacks, kidnappings, and provided intelligence for Haqqani operations in the district.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force discovered a weapons cache in the Sangin district of Helmand province. The cache contained 408 pounds of homemade explosive, two rifles, 800 7.62 mm rounds, one 40 mm grenade, five mines, 19 blasting caps, four fuses, 65 pressure plates, four directional fragmentation charges, two rocket propelled grenade propellants and materials used in making improvised explosive devices.

-- In the Charkh district of Logar province, a combined Afghan and coalition patrol seized a weapons cache consisting of nine 82 mm mortar rounds.

-- In the Nawah-ye Barakzai district of Helmand province, a combined Afghan and coalition patrol found a cache of IED-making materials. The cache consisted of 10 pound bags of an ammonium nitrate and aluminum mixture, detonation cord, lamp cord, a 9-volt battery and blasting caps.

-- In the Shindand district of Herat province, a coalition patrol discovered a weapons cache containing five 82 mm mortar rounds, one 122 mm grenade, four grenades, three 122 mm mortar grenade tail, one fuse, two rocket-propelled grenade propellants, 50 14.5 mm rounds and a large quantity of other munitions.

The International Security Assistance Force will assess a recent combined Afghan-coalition forces operation in Khost province, which resulted in the deaths of six Afghans and one Afghan being wounded. The incident occurred as the combined force approached the targeted building in the Khost district and was engaged with small-arms fire. Coalition forces take every allegation of civilian casualties seriously and will conduct a complete assessment of the engagement.