Afghan, Coalition Forces Capture Insurgents, Weapons, Drugs

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

 WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2012 – Combined international and Afghan forces captured two Taliban leaders in Afghanistan today, military officials reported.

 A combined force in the northern province of Baghlan captured a Taliban leader in the Baghlan-e Jadid district, where he was known to operate a bomb-making cell and direct attacks against Afghan forces.

 In the south, a combined security force captured a Taliban leader and another insurgent in Helmand province’s Nahr-e Saraj district. The leader coordinated direct-fire attacks in the upper Gereshk Valley and planted roadside bombs.

 Afghan and coalition forces detained another suspected insurgent while searching for another Taliban leader who is known to distribute explosives and plan roadside-bomb attacks.

In other operations in Afghanistan:

 -- An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani Network member in Khost province’s Nadir Shah Kot district today. The man coordinated attacks against coalition forces.

 - A combined force found and destroyed two illegal drug caches while on patrol yesterday in Kandahar province’s Panjwai district. One cache had about 2,200 pounds of marijuana; the other had about 330 pounds of marijuana and about 110 pounds of marijuana seeds.

 In Jan. 1 operations:

 -- A combined force observed a roadside bomb detonation on a road in Kandahar province’s Maiwand district yesterday. Shortly after, the patrol stopped and searched a vehicle that was found to contain two explosive devices, two power sources and about 300 pounds of explosives. Security forces took the vehicle’s two occupants into custody for questioning. The security force confiscated the bombs and explosive materials for destruction at a later date.

 -- A combined patrol found three weapons caches in Uruzgan province’s Tarin Kot district. The caches consisted of 60 antipersonnel mines, three hand grenades, three rocket-propelled grenade warheads, four 60 mm mortar rounds, 10 mortar charges and more than 1,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition. Security forces destroyed a portion of the weapons on site and confiscated the rest for destruction at a later date.

 -- A combined security force seized weapons and detained multiple suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban member who moves weapons and explosives in the Zharay district of Kandahar province.

 -- In the Sherzad district of Nangarhar province, a combined security force confiscated weapons and bomb-making materials and detained multiple suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader who directs a group of insurgent fighters responsible for attacks against Afghan forces.

-- A combined force detained multiple insurgents during a search for a Haqqani Network member in Logar province’s Pul-e Alam district. The man was wanted in connection with a car bomb attack last month that killed a civilian and wounded nine others in the province.

-- A combined security force captured a Haqqani Network leader and multiple other insurgent suspects in the Bermal district of Paktika province. The man is known to organize insurgent operations and provide safe passage for insurgents traveling from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

 -- A combined security force in Helmand’s Nahr-e Saraj district captured a Taliban leader who operated in both Musa Qalah and Kajaki districts, supporting insurgents and planning attacks against coalition forces. An additional suspected insurgent was detained.

-- A combined force found and destroyed 300 pounds of marijuana while on patrol in Kandahar’s Panjwai district.

 In Dec. 31 operations:

-- Combined forces in the Ghazni district of Ghazni province found and destroyed a 125 mm tank round, 39 mortar rounds, more than 400 rounds of small-arms ammunition, a rocket-propelled grenade and 29 artillery fuses.

 - A coalition security force on patrol in the Argo district of Badakhshan province found and destroyed four anti-tank mines, an 82 mm mortar round, a hand grenade and a jug of explosives.

 -- A combined patrol in the Zharay district of Kandahar province uncovered and destroyed five armed bombs with a total of 33 pounds of explosive material.

In Dec. 30 operations:

 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force in Nangarhar’s Lalpur district found and destroyed an anti-tank mine, 25 sticks of dynamite, more than 1,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition, a fragmentation grenade, a bolt-action rifle and bomb-making materials.

 -- Coalition security forces in Kandahar’s Arghandab district found and destroyed 38 recoilless rifle rounds, eight rocket-propelled grenade warheads, 38 RPG boosters and 17 120 mm mortar rounds.

 -- An Afghan and coalition security force in Kandahar’s Zharay district captured a Taliban leader who planned attacks against Afghan forces. Multiple suspected insurgents also were detained.

 -- With coalition support, an Afghan force in Paktia province’s Gardez district captured a Taliban leader who conducted roadside-bomb attacks throughout the area. The security force seized weapons and ammunition and detained multiple suspected insurgents during the operation.