Coalition Force Captures Taliban Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2012 – An Afghan-led and coalition-supported force captured a Taliban facilitator in the Ghazni district of Afghanistan’s Ghazni province today, military officials reported.

The facilitator planned roadside-bomb attacks and distributed heavy weaponry throughout province. Multiple additional suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A coalition patrol detained four suspects and discovered several drugs and weapons caches in the Reg-e Khan Neshin district of Helmand province. The caches totalled about 660 pounds of various compounds used to make homemade explosives, various bomb components and about 110 pounds of marijuana seeds. The security force also detained four suspects for questioning about their connection to the drugs and weapons.

-- A combined patrol found and destroyed about 440 pounds of hashish in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province.

-- A combined force found seven rocket-propelled grenades, more than 4,500 rounds of small-arms ammunition and multiple improvised explosive device materials in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province.

-- A combined force confiscated multiple rifles and detained a suspect during a search for a Haqqani network leader in the Terayzai district of Khost province. The leader procures weapons and ammunition, coordinates the placement of roadside bombs and coordinates kidnappings throughout the area.

-- In the Sharan district of Paktika province, three suicide bombers wearing Afghan army uniforms entered the Paktika communications department building just south of the provincial governor’s compound. They held eight civilians as hostages. Afghan police and soldiers breeched the building, killing three insurgents, one of whom detonated his suicide vest. Two individuals suspected of helping the insurgents were arrested.

-- A coalition airstrike killed two insurgents after troops watched them planting device roadside bomb in the Shinwar district of Nangarhar province.

-- Afghan police detained an individual suspected in a kidnapping in the Shinwar district of Nangarhar province. The detainee turned out to be a Taliban commander.

-- In the Nerkh district of Wardak province, Afghan soldiers detained an individual wanted for questioning.

-- Afghan troops detained one suspect in the Zurmat district of Paktia province.