Combined Force Arrests Taliban Bomb Expert

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2012 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban bomb expert in Afghanistan’s Logar province today, military officials reported.

He allegedly has built and supplied improvised explosive devices to insurgents and is believed to have selected targets for IED attacks.

Also today, an Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, detained two suspected insurgents during a search for a Taliban facilitator in Kandahar province. The Taliban facilitator directed IED operations, including the construction and emplacement of IEDs for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

In operations yesterday:
—-- A combined force seized 2,778 pounds of hashish and recovered a cache of weapons, ammunition and communication equipment in Kandahar province. Three insurgents were killed and a suspected insurgent was detained during the operation.
-- Afghan and coalition forces in Wardak province arrested a Taliban leader who planned the transfer and delivery of ammunition and rockets to insurgents and directed the emplacement of IEDs. He also is suspected of being directly responsible for rocket, IED and small-arms attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
-- In Nangarhar province, security combined force arrested a Taliban leader suspected of facilitating attacks against coalition forces. The security force also detained four other suspected insurgents.
-- A combined force in Logar province arrested a Haqqani network weapons facilitator who managed and maintained control over weapons caches and was responsible for the movement and delivery of supplies and weapons to Haqqani fighters. The security force also seized firearms during the operation.
-- In Wardak province, a combined force arrested an insurgent IED attack leader.
-- A combined force in Ghazni province arrested three insurgents during a search for a Taliban operations advisor. The security force killed an insurgent who fired at them and seized a rifle with ammunition.
-- Also in Ghazni province, a combined force arrested an insurgent while searching for a Taliban IED attack leader.
-- In Khost province, security combined force arrested a Haqqani network IED and direct-fire attack leader who also is believed to facilitate the transfer and delivery of IEDs and assorted weapons into Afghanistan. The security force seized firearms and associated gear.
-- A combined force in Takhar province detained an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan weapons facilitator who is believed to have purchased rifles, machine guns, mortar systems, and fertilizer for building IEDs to conduct attacks on Afghan and coalition forces.
-- In Kunduz province, a combined force detained four insurgents during a search for a Taliban operations leader.
-- A combined force in Helmand province arrested two Taliban facilitators believed to be orchestrating an impending high-profile attack. The security force also detained two other suspected insurgents.

In other recent operations:
-- A combined force in Helmand province arrested a Taliban leader Nov. 24. He is believed to have facilitated movement of weapons and ammunition and to have coordinated attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces. Several other suspected insurgents were detained in the operation.
-- Also in Helmand province, a combined force arrested a Taliban attack coordinator Nov. 23. He is suspected of being directly responsible for coordinating vehicle-bomb and suicide-bomber attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces.