Officials in Afghanistan Describe Recent Operations

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

July 9, 2010 - Military officials have provided details on numerous recent operations in Afghanistan.

-- An Afghan-international security force detained two suspected insurgents in Helmand province last night while pursuing a Taliban commander with ties to an insurgent network operating in southern Arghandab district of Kandahar province. The force found 5 pounds of heroin during the operation and protected women and children who were present.

-- Afghan and international forces detained several suspected insurgents in the Tagab district of Kapisa province last night while pursuing a Taliban commander directly linked to a September 2008 ambush that wounded three coalition servicemembers. No shots were fired, and the combined force protected women and children who were present.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained two suspected insurgents in Khost province last night while pursuing a Haqqani terrorist network commander responsible for planning and facilitating attacks against coalition forces. The commander is the leader of a Haqqani religious school in the village of Laken, which he uses to plan attacks and to recruit operatives and suicide bombers. After an Afghan-only force searched the school and secured the scene, they detained the suspected insurgents for further questioning. The security force found 14 grenades and a number of guns at the school. No shots were fired, and the security force protected women and children in the area during the operation.

-- Afghan and International Security Assistance Force officials confirmed that a combined security force captured a Taliban commander during an operation in the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province July 7. The commander is linked to the overall Taliban leader of Khugyani district and associated with the recent influx of Lashkar-e Tayyiba operatives into the province. Lashkar-e Tayyiba is the Pakistani-based terrorist organization responsible for the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai, India.

-- Afghan forces conducted an operation the night of July 7 to detain a Taliban commander in Helmand province's Nahr-e-Saraj district. During the operation, several insurgents presented an immediate threat to the combined force and were killed. Two men were taken into custody by Afghan authorities, and about 45 pounds of refined opium and a number of weapons were destroyed on site.

-- Also on the night of July 6, combined force conducted an operation to detain a Taliban facilitator in a compound in Logar province. After Afghan forces ensured all residents safely left the compound, a large number of women and children were protected and several men were taken into custody by Afghan authorities.

-- Afghan forces working with ISAF partners located and destroyed two roadside bombs on a highway in Zabul province July 6. The combined response resulted from a tip by a local resident to the Shin Kay district governor, who contacted Afghan forces and members of an ISAF team to coordinate the safe removal of the bombs.

-- A combined force conducted an operation July 6 to disrupt a compound in Laghman province used to build roadside bombs. Three bombs and several hand grenades, as well as rockets and rocket propelled grenades were seized, and several men were taken into custody by Afghan authorities.

-- On July 5, a combined force stopped a suspect vehicle in Helmand's Lashkar Gah district, and the occupants fled to a nearby compound. Afghan forces ensured all residents came out of the compound safely and protected women and children who were present. The vehicle occupants, who are part of a narcotics and lethal smuggling network, were taken into custody.

In other news from Afghanistan, artillery fire from an ISAF unit was observed falling short of its intended target yesterday in Paktia province's Jani Khel district. Shortly thereafter, eight injured Afghan civilians were brought to a nearby ISAF outpost. They received immediate care and were transported to an ISAF medical facility for further treatment. One of the wounded civilians later died.

Afghan and ISAF leaders conducted a meeting with local elders following the accident and will hold another meeting today to discuss the incident with members of the greater Jani Khel community. ISAF officials are investigating the incident with Afghan government officials and Afghan security forces to determine the cause.

ISAF officials offered condolences to those affected and said they will accept full responsibility for any actions that led to the incident.