Combined Force Detains Taliban Weapons Dealer

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force and ISAF Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2012 – In the Maidan Shahr district of Afghanistan’s Wardak province, an Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban weapons dealer and seized 110 pounds of explosives today, military officials reported.

The detained individual acquired and provided weapons -- including grenades, sniper rifles and assault rifle components -- to the Taliban for use in attacks throughout the region, officials said.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined force detained one suspect and seized explosive materials while searching for a Taliban explosives expert in the Nawah-ye Barakzai district of Helmand province. The explosives expert constructed and planted improvised explosive devices throughout the region.

In July 11 operations:

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Ghazni province’s Waghaz district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Logar province’s Muhammad Aghah district.

-- In Logar province’s Muhammad Aghah district, a combined force discovered a weapons cache containing mortar rounds, a land mine, and homemade explosives used to construct IEDs.

-- A combined force detained two insurgents in Logar province’s Muhammad Aghah district.

-- In Paktika province’s Yosuf Khel district, a combined force detained an insurgent.

-- A combined force found and cleared four IEDs in Paktika province -- two in the Sharan district and two in the Yosuf Khel district.

-- In the Mata Khan district of Paktika province, a combined force detained an insurgent while investigating a weapons cache containing small arms, ammunition and grenades.

In July 10 operations:

-- A combined force called in an airstrike that killed Omar, a Taliban leader, and an associate in the Charkh district of Logar province. Omar served directly under senior Taliban leaders and was known as an explosive specialist who was directly involved in several attacks in recent months that killed several Afghans. At the time of the operation Omar was attempting to acquire rockets for insurgent attacks.

In July 7 operations:

-- A combined force seized a cache containing more than 22,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate -- a material used in the construction of IEDs -- 10,827 feet of detonation cord, and 281 sticks of dynamite in the Ghazni district of Ghazni province. The combined force destroyed all materials in place. No civilians were harmed during the operation.