Afghan-led Force Kills Haqqani Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2012 – An Afghan-led security force killed Namat, a Haqqani leader, during an operation conducted in the Nadir Shah Kot district of Afghanistan’s Khost province today, military officials reported.

Namat had organized roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district, officials said.

As the security force approached, Namat and several other insurgents opened fire. The security force returned fire, killing Namat, who was armed with an AK-47 rifle, a pistol and multiple grenades.

Several other Haqqani insurgents were detained.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- In the Washer district of Helmand province, a combined force detained multiple suspects and seized an AK-47 rifle, several grenades, explosive materials, and more than 150 pounds of opium while searching for a senior Taliban leader. The leader orders roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district. He is also suspected of attempting to use insurgents to infiltrate Afghan National Security Forces in Helmand for assassinations against Afghan officials, Afghan troops and ISAF troops.

-- A combined force detained multiple suspects during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Maiwand district of Kandahar province. The leader controls insurgent fighters operating in the Zharay and Panjwa’i districts and in Kandahar City. He also supplies weapons, ammunition, and equipment to insurgents and coordinates their attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- Combined forces discovered a weapons cache containing 71 rocket-propelled grenades, 15 improvised explosive devices, and a heavy machine gun during in the Zharay district of Helmand province. The seized material was destroyed.

-- A combined force captured a Haqqani facilitator and detained one other suspect in the Nadir Shah Kot district of Khost province. The facilitator provided roadside bombs to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In the Qarah Bagh district of Ghazni province, a combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban explosives expert. The wanted insurgent constructs and plants roadside bombs along Highway 1 for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force detained several suspects while searching for a Haqqani facilitator in the Muhammad Aghah district of Logar province. The facilitator provides insurgents with explosive materials for roadside bombs used in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

In operations yesterday:

Combined forces killed three insurgents and captured five suspects during operations in eastern Afghanistan.

-- A coalition airstrike killed three armed insurgents emplacing an IED in Mehtar Lam in Laghman province. An explosive ordnance disposal team disabled the bomb.

-- Afghan police detained three individuals in Khowst province’s Khowst district who are suspects in a recent attack on a coalition base.

-- Coalition forces detained one suspect in the Shamal district.

-- Afghan soldiers and coalition forces detained one suspect in the Sarabi district.

In April 22 operations:

-- A combined force detained an insurgent weapons facilitator in the Nesh district of Uruzgan province. The facilitator supplied rockets, ammunition, IED-making components and anti-personnel mines to insurgents. The facilitator also had organized attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.