Combined Force Kills Insurgents, Seizes Weapons

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 7, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed two insurgents, detained several suspected insurgents and destroyed a large weapons cache in the Sayyidabad district of Afghanistan’s Wardak province yesterday, military officials reported.

The first insurgent was killed when he threatened the Afghan-led security force with an assault rifle, and the second was found with the weapons cache and was killed when he threatened the force, officials said.

The target of the operation was a Taliban leader who is responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and manufacturing roadside bombs in the district.

The cache consisted of several pounds of ammonium nitrate -- a banned fertilizer used in making roadside bombs -- 80 pounds of homemade explosive materials, more than 50 mortar rounds and more than a dozen rocket-propelled grenades.

In other operations throughout Afghanistan yesterday:

-- During a security search in Zabul province’s Tarnakwa Jaldak district, an Afghan-led security force detained a Taliban leader and one of his associates. The leader was responsible for several attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces, and also was involved in the movement of weapons and collection of intelligence for Taliban operatives. The force confiscated an assault rifle with multiple magazines during the search.

-- In Kandahar province’s Arghandab district, an Afghan-led security force detained a Taliban leader who was responsible for attacks against Afghan forces.

-- Also in Kandahar, a combined force detained several suspected insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader in the Arghandab district who is responsible for roadside-bomb attacks. During the operation, a civilian suffered minor wounds to his leg. The security force treated him and took him to a medical facility for follow-up care.

-- In Helmand province’s Marja district, an Afghan-led force detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban leader responsible for roadside-bomb and direct-fire attacks against Afghan forces.

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents during a search for a Taliban facilitator in Nangarhar province’s Khugyani district. The facilitator assists the Taliban with the movement of vehicles, weapons and bomb components.

-- In Paktia province’s Zurmat district, a combined force detained numerous suspected insurgents during a search for a Haqqani terrorist network leader who is responsible for roadside-bomb attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and with the movement of weapons and insurgents throughout the area.

-- In Paktika province’s Sarobi district, an Afghan-led force detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Haqqani network leader who directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force in Khost province’s Terayzai district detained a Taliban leader and several suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani network leader involved in roadside-bomb attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

--An Afghan-led force detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani network roadside-bomb facilitator in Ghazni province’s Ghazni district.