Combined Forces Destroy Explosives-laden Building

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents and destroyed an explosives-laden building during a search for a Taliban leader in the Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani district of Afghanistan’s Ghazni province Dec. 3, military officials reported.

The insurgent leader coordinates suicide bomb attacks and plans abductions of Afghan government officials in Ghazni province.

The security force discovered a building inside which insurgents had stored a large amount of explosives. The security force seized multiple mines, four 50-pound roadside bombs, 10 pounds of dynamite, and 20 pounds of explosives.

The village was evacuated during which time the security force safely destroyed the building and the explosives. No civilians were injured and there was no significant damage to a nearby mosque.

In other Dec. 3 Afghanistan operations:

-- In the Nahr-e Shahi district of Balkh province, a combined force detained several suspected insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader. The leader distributes roadside bombs and weapons, and plans attacks against Afghan officials.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban facilitator and six suspected insurgents in the Zharay district of Kandahar province. The facilitator provided roadside bombs, munitions and money to insurgents.

-- A combined patrol discovered five improvised explosive devices in the Now Zad district of Helmand province.

-- In the Sabari district of Khost province, a combined force killed the Haqqani leader, Burhanuddin, and another insurgent. The force also detained five suspected insurgents and confiscated five assault rifles, a pistol, multiple grenades and a chest rack.

-- A coalition airstrike killed several insurgents and wounded two others in the Tagab district of Kapisa province.

-- In the Arghandab district of Kandahar province, a combined force discovered a drug cache containing 1,000 pounds of marijuana. The drugs were destroyed.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban facilitator in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province. The facilitator provides weapons to insurgents.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader and two suspects in the Nawah-ye Barakzai district of Helmand province. The leader planned attacks against Afghan forces.

-- A combined force captured a Haqqani leader in the Gurbuz district of Khost province. The leader conducted roadside-bomb attacks, transported fighters and provided safe havens for insurgents.

-- In the Bati Kot district of Nagarhar province, a combined force captured a Taliban leader, detained five suspects, and confiscated several assault rifles, two grenades and two chest racks.

In Dec. 2 Afghanistan operations:

-- A combined patrol discovered a cache containing ten 107mm rockets, 19 assorted munitions, 50 artillery rounds, 337 mortar rounds, 50 mines, 800 rounds of machine-gun ammunition, 50 rocket-propelled grenades and 1,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition in the Ghazni district of Ghazni province.

-- Two coalition patrols each discovered two IEDs in Zabul province. The first patrol consisting of Afghan and Romanian troops found two IEDs south of Forward Operating Base Sweeney. The second patrol consisting of Afghan soldiers and Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team members found two IEDs south of the base.

In Dec. 1 Afghanistan operations:

-- In the Maiwand district of Kandahar province, a combined force seized a drug cache containing about 165 pounds of hashish. The drugs were destroyed at the scene.