Combined Force Detains Taliban Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader and several other suspected insurgents in the Washer district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province today, military officials reported.

The leader was the senior Taliban leader in the Kajaki district, responsible for roadside bombings, suicide attacks and other operations against Afghan and coalition forces in Helmand province, officials said.

The detained Taliban leader was one of the planners of an April 10 suicide attack against the district police headquarters building in Musa Qalah. The insurgent leader also attempted to impose Taliban law on Afghan civilians and operated a Taliban prison.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained several suspects while searching for an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorist group leader in the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province. The insurgent leader plans and directs attacks against senior Afghan government officials, Afghan forces and coalition troops.

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. The leader directs roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader and detained one other suspect in Helmand’s Washer district. The leader planned and supervised roadside bombings against Afghan and coalition forces throughout central Helmand.

-- A combined force called in an airstrike that killed multiple insurgents during a search for a Haqqani leader in the Muhammad Aghah district of Logar province. The leader directs roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the Laghman and Nangarhar provinces. Two insurgents were detained during the operation.

-- In the Qarghahi district of Laghman province, an Afghan-led, coalition-supported force killed a Taliban leader and an associate, detained multiple suspects, and confiscated several small arms.

In operations yesterday:

-- A coalition airstrike killed five insurgents in Laghman province’s Alingar district.

-- A coalition airstrike killed five insurgents planting roadside bombs in Wardak province’s Maidan Shahr district. An explosive ordnance team safely detonated three roadside bombs after the airstrike.

-- A coalition airstrike killed an insurgent in Kunar province’s Watahpur district after he was positively identified as a Taliban commander. The individual led numerous small-arms attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Also, coalition forces killed an insurgent after receiving small-arms fire in the Watahpur district.

-- Afghan soldiers and coalition troops found an explosives laboratory in the Muqer district of Ghazni province and detained two people suspected to be involved with the lab. An explosive ordnance team safely destroyed the explosives.

-- Afghan police and coalition forces detained an insurgent wanted for planting roadside bombs in Khost province’s Khost district.