Combined Security Forces Kill, Detain Several Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, July 5, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents and detained several others during an overnight security operation yesterday targeting an insurgent leader responsible for directing attacks against Afghan forces in the Sherzad district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, military officials reported.

The Afghan-led force encountered several armed insurgents and spotted insurgents taking up firing positions with assault rifles. Several insurgents were killed in the ensuing fight.

In other operations in Afghanistan yesterday:

-- A combined force killed two insurgents during an operation in Sar-e Pul province’s Sar-e Pul district. After being notified of two insurgents conducting Taliban operations in the area, the Afghan-led force moved to detain them. One insurgent reached for a rifle, prompting the force to engage the armed men, killing both. The security force found several assault rifles, chest racks and loaded magazines while clearing the area.

-- In Paktika province, a combined force detained two suspected insurgents during a search for a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator in the Mata Khan district.

-- In Khost province’s Sabari district, a combined force detained numerous suspected insurgents while looking for a Haqqani leader responsible for coordinating and conducting attacks against the Afghan army.

-- A combined force captured a Haqqani facilitator and one of his associates in Khost province’s Sabari district. The facilitator was responsible for moving fighters and weapons.

-- In Kandahar province’s Zharay district, a combined force killed an insurgent and detained several others. The combined force found the insurgents inside a compound, and with assistance from close air support, engaged them, killing one.

-- In Helmand province’s Washer district, a combined force seized 220 pounds of opium and detained two insurgents.

-- A coalition force seized 37 40 mm grenades, 97 hand grenades and 89 fuses in the Bamyan province’s Kahmard district.

In operations July 3:

-- A combined force killed more than 15 insurgents in Nangarhar province’s Sherzad district. The operation’s goal was to seize an insurgent weapons cache and to disrupt the flow of insurgent fighters and weapons across western Nangarhar, officials said. During a search, the Afghan-led force encountered multiple groups of armed insurgents who opened fire when the force tried to detain them peacefully. The force responded, killing more than 15 insurgents. Later, the force found multiple fortified fighting positions and seized a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, several machine guns, grenades, assault rifles and chest racks.

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader in Balkh province’s Chahar Bolak district. The leader conducted roadside-bomb and small-arms attacks against Afghan security forces.

-- In Kunduz province’s Archi district, an Afghan-led combined force detained several people with suspected Taliban ties. The operation targeted a Taliban commander who leads a bomb-attack network in the district.

-- During clearing operations in Kandahar province’s Zharay district, a combined force killed several insurgents and detained two others.

-- A combined patrol detained a suspected insurgent leader in Uruzgan province’s Tarin Kot district. The suspected leader was detained for allegedly building and distributing homemade bombs. Afghan authorities detained several others for further questioning.

-- A combined force detained a suspected insurgent during a search for a Taliban leader in Zabul province’s Qalat district. The facilitator planted roadside bombs, coordinated fighters’ movements and levied illegal taxes against Afghan civilians for the Taliban.

-- In Helmand province’s Marja district, a combined force detained several people with suspected ties to the Taliban and found 100 pounds of opium while looking for a Taliban leader who directs an attack cell in the area. His cell is responsible for multiple roadside-bomb attacks and solicits narcotics, heavy machine guns and rockets.

-- In Helmand province’s Kajaki district, an Afghan-led combined force detained several suspected insurgents while searching for the senior Taliban military leader operating in the province’s Sangin district.

-- A combined force captured a Haqqani leader and two suspected insurgents in Paktika province’s Mata Khan district. The leader was responsible for conducting, coordinating and directing roadside-bomb attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In Khost province’s Sabari district, an Afghan-led combined force captured a Haqqani leader and two suspected insurgents. The leader participated in attacks against the Afghan army and provided training for indirect-fire attacks.

In operations July 2:

-- A combined force killed several insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader in Kunduz province’s Archi district. The leader directs attacks against Afghan government officials and security forces. During the search, the force pursued several armed insurgents. The insurgents engaged the force, resulting in several insurgents being killed. The force found a grenade launcher and several grenades.

-- In Kandahar province’s Panjwai district, a security force captured a Taliban bomb-maker and one of his associates.

-- An Afghan-led combined force captured a Taliban facilitator in Kandahar province’s Dand district. He was responsible for purchasing and delivering weapons and ammunition in Kandahar City.

-- In Helmand province’s Now Zad district, a combined force detained two suspected insurgents while searching for the Taliban’s governing official for operations in the Washer district.

-- In Nangarhar province’s Sherzad district, a combined force killed an insurgent and detained a suspected insurgent while searching for the Taliban’s governing official for operations in western Nangarhar. The Afghan-led force saw several armed insurgents fleeing the area, and an engagement followed when the force tried to stop them. The force found about 70 pounds of explosives.

-- A combined force in Logar province’s Baraki Barak district, detained a man with suspected Taliban ties while searching for a Taliban leader responsible for several attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In Khost province’s Sabari district, a combined force captured a Haqqani network leader and two associates. The leader facilitated suicide bombers and stored weapons and explosives at his home.

-- Also in Khost’s Sabari district, an Afghan-led combined force detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani facilitator responsible for building, moving and planting roadside bombs.

-- A combined force detained two suspected insurgents in Ghazni province’s Ghazni district during a search for a Taliban leader responsible for attacks against Afghan forces.

-- In Herat province’s Shindand district, a coalition patrol seized 23 rocket boosters, an 80 mm rocket warhead, three rockets, seven launch charges, 20 grenades, other munitions and 2 pounds of TNT.

In operations July 1:

-- A combined force killed several insurgents and detained a suspected insurgent in Balkh province’s Balkh district while searching for the Taliban’s district chief. Insurgents armed with assault rifles attacked the Afghan-led force. The force returned fire, killing several insurgents, and detained a man with suspected insurgent ties.

-- In Kunduz province’s Chahar Darah district, a combined force killed an insurgent and captured a leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorist organization. The combined force killed the insurgent after making numerous attempts to apprehend him peacefully.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader and one of his associates in Zabul province’s Qalat district.

-- In Kandahar province’s Dand district, a combined force captured a Taliban facilitator and two associates.

-- -In Kandahar province’s Panjwai district, an Afghan-led combined force captured a Taliban leader and two suspected insurgents. The leader was responsible for planning and executing attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Zharay and Panjwai districts.

-- In Helmand province’s Sangin district, a combined force detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban facilitator who coordinates movements of materials for insurgents in the area.

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents in Helmand province’s Nahr-e Saraj district while searching for a Taliban leader responsible for directing and facilitating roadside-bomb attacks and suicide bombers.

-- A coalition airstrike killed several insurgents in Ghazni province’s Qarah Bagh district after they were observed planting roadside bombs along a major highway.

-- In Paktika province’s Sarobi district, a combined force captured a Haqqani leader and two of his associates. The leader conducted reconnaissance operations targeting Afghan and coalition forces, providing information to Haqqani leaders in Pakistan.

-- An Afghan-led combined force in Khost province detained two suspected insurgents during a search for a Haqqani facilitator. The man acquires bomb materials and weapons and coordinates their transfer to fighters in the area.

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents, including one man who was disguised in women’s clothing, during a search for a Taliban leader in Ghazni province’s Ghazni district. The leader directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.