Forces Continue Offensive Against Insurgents

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Compiled from International Security Assistance Force and ISAF Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2011 – Coalition forces continued their offensive against the Haqqani network and other insurgents in Afghanistan, detaining numerous enemy fighters in recent days, military officials reported.

A combined Afghan and coalition security force today killed an Afghan man during a search for a Haqqani operative in Badakshan province’s Argo district. The wanted man is known to coordinate suicide attacks with other insurgent leaders in the northeast corner of the country.

During the search, the Afghan man failed to comply with repeated warnings and displayed hostile intent toward the security force, which engaged the man, resulting in his death.

The security force then confiscated a shotgun and intelligence information linking the Afghan man to the Haqqani network. They also detained two suspected insurgents during the operation.

In other ISAF news today:

--In Helmand province’s Musa Qal’ah district, a combined security force detained multiple suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban operative who provides financial, material and logistical support to insurgents throughout northern Helmand, Farah and Nimroz provinces. They confiscated multiple assault rifles, a shotgun, two ammunition pouches, and bomb-making materials during the operation.

--In Kandahar province’s Zharay district, a combined force detained a Taliban leader responsible for planting improvised explosive devices and supporting insurgents in the district. The security force also seized bomb-making materials.

--In Nangarhar province’s Behsud district, a combined force detained a Taliban operative who gave logistical support to local insurgents, and two other suspected insurgents. Also during the operation, the force engaged a man armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, killing him. Another man was wounded after firing at the force.

In operations yesterday, a combined patrol in Kandahar discovered a vehicle-borne IED after receiving a tip from a local civilian. The vehicle was packed with 500 pounds of explosives, which the patrol defused and confiscated. The force also detained multiple suspected insurgents while searching the surrounding area for additional explosives. The confiscated explosives will be destroyed at a later date.

On Nov. 5 Afghanistan operations:

--In Paktiya province’s Zurmat district, a combined force detained several insurgents during a security operation. The detained leader was responsible for IED attacks and recruiting insurgents to conduct suicide attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

--A combined force detained a Taliban leader and multiple suspected insurgents during an operation in Wardak province’s Nerkh district. The leader directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the area and coordinated weapons and financial support for insurgents. The security force seized a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with multiple RPGs, five AK-47 assault rifles, several ammunition pouches, fragmentation grenades, and bomb-making materials.

--In Paktiya’s Lajah-Ahmad Khel district, a combined force detained multiple suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader who coordinates direct and indirect fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and supplies insurgents with explosives.

--A combined force detained a Haqqani network operative and two suspected insurgents during an operation in Khost province’s Khost district. The detained man planned and conducted attacks, including kidnappings, against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force seized an AK-47 assault rifle and ammunition pouch during the operation.

--In Logar province’s Pul-e’Alam district, a combined force detained multiple suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani network leader who directs roadside bomb and indirect fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, and supplies weapons and IEDs to his network.

Also, in a Nov. 5 ISAF statement, ISAF Commander Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen said he joined Afghan President Hamid Karzai in condemning a suicide attack that day at a mosque in the Jirqishlaq Hasan Tal area of Baghlan province, which reportedly killed seven civilians and wounded 17 others.

“It is obvious by these acts that the insurgents do not respect the holy religion of Islam or the people of Afghanistan,” Allen said. “To conduct a senseless attack during this sacred time on the Islamic calendar is despicable. We send our condolences to the victims of today’s heinous event, and to the family and friends also affected by this attack.”

Allen noted that Taliban leader Mullah Omar issued an Eid message two days earlier that saying civilian casualties are a concern and must be minimized. “Apparently, when looking at today’s suicide attack, Taliban fighters are either uninformed or don’t care about the specific guidance given by their leaders to protect innocent Afghan civilians,” he said.

The general called on Omar to condemn the attacks publically.

In Nov. 4 Afghanistan operations:

--A combined force discovered 220 pounds of explosives and other bomb-making materials during a routine patrol in Zabul province’s Qalat district. The explosives and materials were removed by coalition forces and no civilians were injured during the operation.

--In Kandahar’s Maiwand district, a combined force detained several insurgents and seized a cache of 1,254 pounds of opium, which was destroyed on site. The detainees were taken in by Afghan forces for processing and further questioning.

--A coalition security force discovered a cache of unexploded ordinance in the Kunduz district of Kunduz province. The cache consisted of 20 40mm grenades, 40 30mm cannon casings and one 130mm casing. The items were safely destroyed by the security force at the scene.

--Acting on a tip by a local national, coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in the Faizabad district of Badakhshan province. The cache consisted of 29 rocket-propelled grenades, which were safely destroyed at the scene.

--A combined force seized a narcotics cache during an operation to disrupt an insurgent network in Helmand’s Washer district. The force seized 1,430 pounds of opium, which was safely destroyed on site.

--A local national led a coalition security force to a weapons cache in the Kahmard district of Bamyan province. The cache consisted of five 82mm recoilless rifle rockets, six 73mm rockets, 13 85mm rockets, six other rockets, and 400 12.7mm rounds.