Coalition, Afghans Seize Weapons, Capture Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2011 – Coalition and Afghan forces today seized weapons and drug caches in southern and eastern Afghanistan following two days of multiple engagements with insurgent fighters, military officials reported.

A coalition security force discovered a weapons cache while conducting a patrol in the Marja district of Helmand province today. The cache consisted of 700 7.62 mm rounds, nine 9 mm rounds, two assault rifles and five magazines. The weapons were seized by the security force to be destroyed later.

In the Maiwand district of Kandahar province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force destroyed a 550-pound cache of marijuana while on patrol.

Another combined force, acting on a local Afghan’s tip, found and destroyed 17 80 mm mortar rounds in the Bagram district of Parwan province.

On Nov. 19, a combined force captured a Taliban ammunition and explosives supplier in Zabul province’s Qalat district. An additional suspect was detained.

In other Nov. 19 operations:

-- A coalition force detained numerous suspected insurgents in Marja after receiving information that insurgents were at a compound in the area. After the force called for the men to come out peacefully, the insurgents emerged and were detained without incident.

-- In Helmand’s Kajaki district, a combined force detained multiple suspected insurgents during an operation in search of a Taliban member who coordinates the movement of supplies for insurgents there. The security force confiscated roadside bombs and bomb-making materials.

-- A combined force operating in Paktia province’s Zurmat district captured a Taliban roadside bomb coordinator and an additional suspect.

-- In the Behsud district of Nangarhar province, a combined force detained numerous suspected insurgents during an operation in search of an al-Qaida member who transports insurgent fighters and supplies from Nangarhar to Kunar province.

In Nov. 18 operations:

-- During a combined operation to search for an al-Qaida trainer and courier in the Sayyidabad district of Wardak province, a shooter engaged the security force with small-arms fire from inside a building. The force returned fire, killing the man, then detained two suspected insurgents and destroyed multiple weapons, including bomb-making materials, firearms, grenades and ammunition.

-- A coalition force acting on a tip in Marja found and seized five rocket-propelled grenades, 40 rounds of small-arms ammunition and 30 feet of detonation cord.

-- A Taliban leader planning large-scale attacks in Kandahar province was captured there by a combined Afghan and coalition security force.

-- International Security Assistance Force officials are investigating a firefight that broke out in the Ghazni district of Ghazni province when insurgents fired on a combined Afghan and coalition security force at an Afghan security forces checkpoint. Engaged with rocket-propelled grenades, mortar and small-arms fire, the force requested air support. After multiple attempts to identify themselves as friendly forces, the force was unable to stop the threat and engaged the checkpoint in self-defense, killing two people. Afghan police responded to assess the situation and render medical care. Three additional personnel were wounded.

-- A coalition patrol in Helmand’s Kajaki district found and destroyed an 82 mm mortar and 17 rocket-propelled grenades.

-- A combined force captured a Haqqani network leader who planned suicide-bomb attacks in the Bak district of Khost province. The security force detained two additional suspects.

-- In Khost’s Terayzai district, a combined force detained multiple suspected insurgents and seized various weapons during an operation in search of a Haqqani network coordinator.

-- A combined force in Khost’s Sperah district detained multiple suspected insurgents during an operation in search of a Haqqani network leader who directs the movement of senior Haqqani leaders and distributes weapons, vehicles and munitions.