Combined Force Kills Several Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents during an operation to detain a Taliban weapons specialist in the Arghandab district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province today, military officials reported.

During the operation a group of insurgents attacked the security force with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns. The security force returned fire and killed several of the attackers. The force conducted a follow-on assessment of the area and confirmed no civilians had been injured, officials said.

The security force also detained multiple suspected insurgents.

In July 15 Afghanistan operations:

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Haqqani weapons dealer in the Khost district of Khost province. The Haqqani weapons dealer supplies weapons, explosives and improvised explosive device components to insurgents throughout the region.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Charkh district of Logar province. The Taliban leader plans and coordinates attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and provides insurgents with weapons and explosives.

-- In the Andar district of Ghazni province, a combined force seized multiple firearms and grenades during an operation to apprehend a Taliban explosives expert responsible for building improvised explosive devices. The bomb maker plans and coordinates IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district.

-- In Ghazni province, a combined force found and cleared four IEDs in the Giro district, one IED in the Ghazni district, one IED in the Dehyak district and one IED in the Ab Band district.

-- A combined force detained two insurgents in Khost province’s Sabari district.

-- In Laghman province, a combined force found and cleared two IEDs in the Qarghah’i district and one in the Alingar district.

-- A combined force found and cleared two IEDs in Logar province’s Pul-E Alam district.

-- In Nangarhar province, a combined force found and safely cleared two IEDs, one IED in the Khugyani district and another in the Kama district.

-- A coalition airstrike killed two insurgents in Paktika province’s Jani Khel district.

In July 14 operations:

-- In the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province, a combined force conducted an operation to arrest a Taliban leader. The leader coordinates the delivery of firearms and explosives to insurgents and is responsible for directing IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force confirmed that Qari Ziauddin, a senior Taliban leader, and Tor Gul, a weapons smuggler, were killed along with several other insurgents during a July 14 operation in Wardak province’s Maidan Shahr district. A third suspected Taliban leader was arrested during the operation. Qari Ziauddin, also known as Ikram Jan, was the senior Taliban leader for the Maidan Shahr district. He armed insurgent fighters, transported suicide bombers, coordinated the planting of IEDs, and personally led numerous attacks throughout the district. Tor Gul, also known as Emal and Mukhlis, acquired and transported weapons, ammunition and IED components for insurgents throughout the region.

-- A combined force found and cleared two IEDs in Ghazni province’s Ghazni district.

-- In Khowst province, a combined force discovered two weapons caches, one in the Terezayi district and another in the Khost district. The caches contained military personnel items, grenades and IED-making materials.

-- A combined force detained four insurgents in Khost province’s Musa Khel district.

-- In Logar province, a combined force found and cleared one IED in the Muhammad Aghah district and another in the Kharwar district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Nangarhar province’s Shinwar district.

-- In Paktika province’s Sharan district, a combined force found and cleared one IED.

-- In Paktiya province, a combined force found and cleared one IED in the Zurmat district and another in the Shwak district.

-- In Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district, a combined force discovered a weapons cache containing small arms and ammunition, grenades, multiple IEDs, more than 3,000 pounds of homemade explosives, and IED-making materials.