Combined Afghan, Coalition Force Kills Taliban Chief

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force yesterday killed a senior Taliban leader and a subordinate during a security operation in the Ghormach district of Afghanistan’s Faryab province, military officials reported.

Mullah Bahuddin was responsible for directing attacks against Afghan security forces, and he also facilitated weapons distribution and suicide-bomb attacks in the area. He was a key leader in the Taliban hierarchy who worked with the Badghis and Ghormach groups.

Bahuddin and his subordinate were killed during a firefight with the security force. Following the engagement, the security force confiscated a machine gun, grenade rocket motors and a pistol.

The deceased insurgent leader is one of more than 50 Taliban members killed since the beginning of the year during security force operations in Faryab province, officials said.

In other Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined patrol confiscated and destroyed 2,200 pounds of marijuana seeds and 3,300 pounds of hashish in the Zharay district of Kandahar province.

-- In the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, a combined force detained several suspects during a security operation targeting a Taliban facilitator. The facilitator is responsible for coordinating the movement of fighters, roadside-bomb materials and ammunition to support Taliban operations in the region.

-- A combined force detained two suspects during a security operation in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province. The target of the operation is a Taliban leader who directs a team of fighters in the area.

-- In the Maiden Shahr district of Wardak province, a combined patrol detained numerous insurgents during an operation targeting a criminal leader. The target is responsible for numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban facilitator in the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province. The facilitator is responsible for direct-fire attacks against Afghan security forces, and he also assists with the movement of fighters and weapons within the district.

-- In the Jani Khel district of Paktika province, a coalition patrol confiscated two recoilless rifles, four recoilless rifle rounds, detonation cord and 51 pounds of explosives.

-- Afghan and coalition forces killed an insurgent, detained three suspects and seized a weapons cache as the result of multiple operations in Regional Command East. The cache contained a 7-pound bag of ammonium nitrate -- a banned fertilizer used in homemade explosives – as well as an assault rifle, an 82 mm base plate, a pressure plate and a grenade.