Troops Kill, Detain Insurgents, Seize Cache

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2011 – Afghan and coalition forces killed one insurgent, detained one suspect and seized a weapons cache during separate operations across Regional Command East in Afghanistan yesterday, military officials reported.

The cache contained two 82 mm mortars, two 81 mm mortars, one fuse, one large mortar and two munitions.

In other Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined force found five homemade bombs in the Zharay district of Kandahar province.

-- In the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, a combined force discovered a weapons cache containing 47 mortar rounds.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Haqqani network leader in the Dzadran district of Paktia province. The leader organizes insurgent operations in Khost and Paktia provinces, and facilitates the movement of insurgents from Pakistan into the region.

-- A combined force captured a senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in the Baghlan-e Jadid district of Baghlan province. The insurgent planned attacks and assassinations. He also recruited fighters for attacks against Afghan security forces.

-- In the Alisheng district of Laghman province, a coalition patrol seized a weapons cache containing five 82 mm grenades, two hand grenades and 12 rocket fuses.

-- A combined force captured a Haqqani leader and detained six suspects in the Khost district of Khost province. The insurgent leader directed roadside bomb and rocket attacks against Afghan forces.

-- In the Pul-e ‘Alam district of Logar province, a combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban leader. The leader is responsible for roadside bomb attacks against coalition forces.

-- A combined force detained multiple suspects and confiscated weapons, heroin and roadside-bomb making materials while searching for a Taliban facilitator in the Sherzad district of Nangarhar province. The facilitator coordinates movement of vehicles, weapons, and bomb-making components throughout the area.

-- A combined force seized 19,842 pounds of hashish and 1,852 pounds of ammonium nitrate aluminium, which is used in the making of explosives, in the Zharay district of Kandahar province.

In Sept. 17 Afghanistan operations:

-- In the Andar district of Ghazni province, a combined patrol seized an enemy cache containing 1,213 pounds of ammonium nitrate.

-- In the Deh Rawud district of Uruzgan province, a combined force seized a weapons cache containing four rifles, 13 boxes of 9 mm rounds, 3,500 7.62 mm rounds, 30 hand grenades, 10 rockets and four radios.

-- A combined patrol detained several insurgents and seized explosives in the Shah Joy district of Zabul province. The force discovered about 1,100 pounds of ammonium nitrate, 10 rocket-propelled grenades, five homemade bomb containers, 8.8 pounds of aluminium powder and some small arms.

-- A combined patrol killed more than 10 insurgents and destroyed a narcotics laboratory in the Baghran district of Helmand province. The lab is reported to be one of the largest heroin-producing facilities destroyed in Afghanistan during the past five years. Profits from it were responsible for financing insurgent attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The lab contained more than 170 55-gallon barrels of narcotics and related materials. The contents included more than 11,100 pounds of chemicals used in processing heroin, 4,305 gallons of morphine solution, 661 pounds of charcoal, 33 pounds of wet opium, three dry presses, three wet presses, 8.8 pounds of pure heroin and one communications device.

-- Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and International Security Assistance Force officials jointly condemned the homemade bomb attack in the Qhormach district of Frayab province that killed nine Afghan civilians and wounded one. Five children were among those killed. Initial reports indicate a single explosive was detonated. "The insurgents' violent attack on civilians demonstrates their complete disregard for the Afghan people and the value of human life. We mourn with our Afghan partners, and we are outraged over this tragic crime," said Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of ISAF.

In Sept. 16 Afghanistan operations:

-- A combined patrol killed one insurgent and detained several suspects in the Khas district of Uruzgan province. Two of the detainees are suspected insurgent leaders responsible for supplying lethal aid used in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.