Combined Force Detains Taliban Facilitator

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2012 – An Afghan-led and coalition-supported security force detained a Taliban facilitator, detained two additional insurgents and seized multiple weapons in the Daman district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province today, military officials reported.

The facilitator provided vehicles for suicide attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the province.

Also today, an Afghan-led security force detained a Haqqani network leader and another suspect in the Sabari district of Khost province. The insurgent leader directed roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition troops. He also supplied weapons and ammunition to insurgents in the area.

In yesterday’s Afghanistan operations:

-- An Afghan-led force killed two insurgents and confiscated weapons and blasting caps while searching for a Taliban leader in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province. The sought-after insurgent leader organized roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. As the Afghan portion of the force moved into the area and conducted a call out, the insurgent leader and an additional insurgent attempted to fire on the force. The Afghan soldiers returned fire, killing the attackers.

-- In the Qalat district of Zabul province, a combined force detained a senior Taliban leader and one other insurgent. The insurgent leader organized attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Kabul, Kandahar and Herat provinces. He also coordinated with Taliban leaders in Pakistan to supply weapons, ammunition and equipment to insurgents.

-- A combined force detained multiple suspected Haqqani insurgents in the Muhammad Aghah district of Logar province.

-- A combined force detained two suspects while searching for a Taliban leader in the Qarah Bagh district of Ghazni province. The leader plans and directs roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition troops.

-- A coalition airstrike killed four insurgents emplacing an improvised explosive device in the Maidan Shahr district of Wardak province.

-- Afghan soldiers and coalition forces found small arms, bomb-making materials and a radio in Wardak’s Sayyidabad district and detained four suspects.

In April 28 operations:

-- A combined force captured two Haqqani leaders, detained two additional suspects and seized multiple assault rifles, several hand grenades and multiple magazines with ammunition in Khost’s Khost district.

-- An Afghan-led force captured a Taliban leader and an additional suspect in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province. The insurgent leader directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the Shah Wali Kot and Khakrez districts. He also provided weapons, ammunition and equipment to insurgents.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader in the Musa Qalah district of Helmand province. The insurgent leader coordinated attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the Musa Qalah, Nahr-e Saraj, and Sangin districts. He was responsible for an attack on an Afghan army outpost in central Helmand earlier this month that killed six Afghan soldiers.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader, killed another insurgent and captured several others in the Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani district of Ghazni province. The insurgent leader conducted roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition troops.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban facilitator, detained multiple additional insurgents and seized a homemade bomb, weapons and magazines with ammunition in the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province. The facilitator supplied weapons and roadside bombs to insurgents throughout the district for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force captured a Taliban leader in the Bala Boluk district of Farah province. In addition to directing insurgents, the leader is suspected of using intimidation and threat techniques to force local people into aiding the Taliban.

In other news, an Afghan patrol supported by coalition forces found a 122 mm rocket in the Paghman district of Kabul province April 27. An Afghan explosive ordnance disposal team disarmed the rocket.