Afghan, Coalition Forces Arrest Insurgents in Khost Province

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2013 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested three insurgents today during a search for an insurgent leader with ties to the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist networks in the Sabari district of Afghanistan’s Khost province, military officials reported.

The leader finances insurgent networks, plans and executes assassinations of Afghan civilians, uses his home as a staging point for insurgent operations, and obtains weapons and equipment for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

The security force also seized ammunition in the operation.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined force in Jowzjan province’s Khanaqa district killed two insurgents during a search for a senior Taliban leader who is responsible for illegal tax collection in Jowzjan and Balkh provinces to fund Taliban operations and has assassinated village elders who resisted. He also facilitates the movement of weapons and equipment for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- Afghan special forces soldiers and coalition forces killed two insurgents and detained another in Herat province’s Shindand district after they were fired upon while en route to a meeting with religious leaders.

-- A combined force in Paktia province’s Gardez district arrested a Haqqani network improvised explosive device expert who directs and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also arrested four other insurgents and seized three rifles.

-- In Nangarhar province’s Khugyani district, a combined force arrested five insurgents during a search for a senior Taliban leader who oversees a group involved in ambushes, IED operations and attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also facilitates the movement of weapons and serves as an intelligence operative for more senior Taliban officials.

-- A combined force in Logar province’s Pul-e Alam district arrested a Taliban leader who controls a group responsible for attacks on Afghan and coalition forces, facilitates the movement of insurgent weapons and manages personnel decisions for the local Taliban network. The security force also arrested another insurgent.

In a May 18 operation, a combined force in Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district killed an insurgent during a search for a senior Taliban leader who is responsible for attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces. He also makes and plants IEDs, procures and distributes weapons and equipment and oversees kidnappings of Afghan civilians.

In May 17 operations:

-- Afghan special forces soldiers and coalition forces killed 12 insurgents in Ghazni province’s Qara Bagh district after insurgents fired on them near a local police checkpoint.

-- Afghan local and uniformed police secured a weapons cache that included 107 mm artillery shells and five rockets and coordinated for its controlled detonation in Ghazni province’s Deh Yak district. Local police received intelligence concerning the cache’s location and called for an Afghan army explosive ordnance disposal team.