Afghan, Coalition Forces Conduct Numerous Operations

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

July 1, 2010 - Afghan and international security forces conducted numerous operations last night, capturing a Taliban district chief and killing or capturing numerous other insurgents, military officials reported.

A combined Afghan-international force captured the Taliban district chief of Now Zad and killed a large number of insurgents during an operation in Helmand province's remote Baghran district.

Numerous insurgents engaged the combined force with rocket propelled grenades and machine gun fire as the force approached a compound outside the village of Kariz-e Adamkhan. Throughout a four-hour fire fight, insurgent forces tried to use homemade bombs against the security force. Precision air fire was used to suppress the attacks.

No civilians or Afghan members of the combined force were killed or wounded, officials said. After the combined force secured the area, servicemembers administered medical aid to several wounded insurgents, including the Taliban district chief. The wounded were evacuated along with several captured insurgents.

Dozens of automatic weapons, RPG launchers and rounds, a machine gun, grenades, and ammunition were discovered, along with 20 pounds of wet opium. The combined force destroyed the weapons and drugs at the scene. –

In other operations last night:

-- An Afghan-international security force captured a senior Taliban weapons facilitator and a number of suspected insurgents in Kandahar province. The facilitator operated primarily in Kandahar City and Panjwai district, but is believed to have ties to senior Taliban leadership in Helmand and Kandahar provinces. No shots were fired, and security forces protected women and children who were present.

-- A combined Afghan-international force detained several suspected insurgents while pursuing a Taliban commander in the Charkh district of Logar province. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for the occupants to exit the targeted compound, and then secured it. After initial questioning, the security force detained the suspected insurgents. No shots were fired, and the security force protected women and children who were present.

-- An Afghan-international security force detained several suspected insurgents in the Sabari district of Khost province. The force found multiple automatic weapons, ammunition and grenades. No shots were fired, and the combined force protected women and children who were present.