Combined Force Kills Armed Insurgents in Balkh Province

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 20, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force killed two armed insurgents during an operation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in the Balkh district of Afghanistan’s Balkh province today, military officials reported.

As the security force approached the Taliban leader’s suspected location, the armed insurgents maneuvered toward them and were killed when they displayed hostile intent.

No civilians were harmed during the operation. The security force also detained a suspected insurgent and seized firearms and grenades.

In other operations today:

-- An Afghan and coalition force in Kandahar province’s Khakrez district arrested a Taliban informant who is suspected of acquiring and providing information regarding Afghan and coalition security operations to Taliban leaders operating throughout the region. He also is believed to provide guidance to insurgents for roadside bomb attacks. The security force also detained an alleged insurgent and seized explosive materials.

-- In Khost province’s Bak district, an Afghan-led security force supported by coalition troops detained suspected insurgents and seized firearms during an operation to arrest a Haqqani network leader who is believed to coordinate attacks throughout the region, specializing in the use of roadside bombs.

In other news, Afghan and coalition forces today confirmed the death of Qari Yahya, an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader, during a Sept. 18 operation in Kunduz province’s Qal-al-ye Zal district.

As the security force approached Qari Yahya’s location, he and another IMU leader maneuvered from the compound and displayed hostile intent. Qari Yahya was killed, and the other IMU leader was arrested without injury. No civilians were harmed during the operation.

Qari Yahya was directly responsible for facilitating and conducting roadside bomb attacks and maintained communication and logistics ties with senior IMU and Taliban leaders.

The security force also detained other insurgents in the operation.

Airstrike Kills Taliban Leader Involved in Aug. 7 Attack

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan – One of the Taliban leaders behind an Aug. 7 attack on a coalition base in Afghanistan’s Logar province was killed by Afghan and coalition security forces in Logar’s Pul-e Alam district yesterday, military officials reported.

Afghan and coalition security forces positively identified the Taliban leader, Bismullah, and two additional insurgents and killed them with a precision airstrike after confirming no civilians were in the area, officials said.

Bismullah is believed to have supplied suicide bombers with essential equipment for the Aug. 7 attack, which wounded several Afghan civilians but failed to cause any significant damage to the coalition base. At the time of his death, officials said, he was believed to be planning another large-scale attack and had transported several rockets across the region.

A post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was damaged and no civilians were harmed.

In other news, a combined Afghan and coalition security force killed several armed insurgents during an operation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in Balkh province’s Chimtal district today. As the security force approached the Taliban leader’s suspected location, several insurgents opened fire and the security force returned fire.

In operations yesterday:

-- A combined force of coalition troops and Afghan special police in Kandahar province’s Maiwand district seized a vehicle packed with nearly 3 tons of explosives. The Afghan-led team stopped the vehicle and detained its three occupants. The vehicle is believed to have been bound for bomb makers in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, officials said, and the explosives were destroyed on site.

-- The Wardak Provincial Response Company and coalition forces disrupted an insurgent attack on an Afghan army security patrol in Wardak province’s Maidan Shahr district. Responding to a reported insurgent ambush on the patrol, the response company provided covering fire for the unit in contact and conducted a follow-on mission to investigate a suspected Taliban checkpoint.

Combined Force Detains Numerous Suspected Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON – An Afghan and coalition security force detained numerous suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Haqqani leader in the Shwak district of Afghanistan’s Paktiya province yesterday, military officials reported.

The Haqqani leader is responsible for facilitating attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district, officials said.

Also today, a combined force detained one suspect during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Chimtal district of Balkh province. The sought-after Taliban leader directs attacks against Afghan security forces throughout the region. He is also responsible for conducting attacks against reconstruction projects in the province.

In Aug. 9 operations:

-- A combined force found and cleared an improvised explosive device in Ghanzi province’s Ghazni district.

-- A combined force killed an insurgent in Kapisa province’s Tagab district.

-- A combined force detained two insurgents in Khowst province’s Gurbuz district.

-- A combined force killed one insurgent and detained two others in Laghman province’s Mehtar Lam district.

-- A combined force detained an insurgent who was emplacing an IED in Logar province’s Muhammad Aghah district.

-- In Nangarhar province, a combined force found and cleared one IED in the Jalalabad district and another in the Khugyani district.

-- In Paktika province, a combined force found and cleared an IED in the Sar Rowzah district.

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

-- In Parwan province, a combined force discovered a weapons cache containing 18 rockets in the Bagram district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district.

Combined Force Arrests Taliban Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province today, military officials reported.

The Taliban leader controlled an insurgent cell responsible for multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region, officials said.

At the time of his arrest, officials said, the Taliban leader was in the process of acquiring heavy weapons and explosives for future attacks.

The security force also detained one suspected insurgent during the operation, officials said.

In other operations today:

-- In the Chimtal district of Balkh province, a combined force detained one suspect during a search for a senior Taliban leader. The senior leader funds insurgent operations and coordinates attacks throughout the district.

-- A combined force detained numerous suspects during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province. The Taliban leader oversees insurgent activity in the area and provides heavy weapons, improvised explosive devices and ammunition to Taliban-associated insurgents throughout the district.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Muqer district of Ghazni province. The Taliban leader is responsible for coordinating Taliban attacks throughout the area.

In other news, officials announced yesterday that Haji Shakur, a Taliban leader in the Chora and Baluchi districts of Uruzgan province, was one of the suspects arrested during a July 31 operation in the Tarin Kot district of Uruzgan province. The operation was conducted by an Afghan security force supported by coalition troops.

Shakur was a mid-level Taliban leader who controlled dozens of insurgent fighters and is responsible for conducting a number of insurgent attacks in both Chora and Baluchi districts. He provided those under his control with ammunition and weapons, and was involved in recruiting local Afghans from the area for the Taliban.

Shakur was also an explosives expert responsible for building IEDs used to attack Afghan and coalition forces.

In operations around Afghanistan yesterday:

-- A combined force detained an insurgent during a route clearance operation in Ghanzi province’s Gelan district.

-- In Ghanzi province, a combined force killed an insurgent during a small-arms engagement in the Muqer district.

-- In Kapisa province, a coalition airstrike killed 10 insurgents in the Tagab district.

-- In Khost province, a combined force found and cleared an IED in the Sabari district and another in the Terezayi district.

-- A combined force killed six insurgents during a small-arms engagement in Logar province’s Kharwar district.

-- In Logar province’s Baraki Barak district, a combined force killed an insurgent who was emplacing an IED.

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

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Paktika province’s Bermal district.

Combined Force Kills Several Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents during a search for the leader of a Taliban attack cell in the Chimtal district of Afghanistan’s Balkh province today, military officials reported.

During the operation, a group of insurgents attacked the combined force, officials said. The force returned fire, killing all of the attackers. As the force continued its mission, another armed individual approached and threatened the force, officials said. The armed insurgent was killed by the security force.

Officials said the operation also resulted in the detention of a suspected insurgent and the seizure of multiple weapons.

In operations yesterday:

-- A combined force in the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province detained a Taliban military chief who specialized in planning and carrying out improvised explosive device and suicide attacks.

-- A coalition airstrike killed an insurgent in Ghazni province’s Muqer district.

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

-- Combined forces killed three insurgents in a firefight, killed four other insurgents during an airstrike, and detained a suspect during separate operations in Ghazni’s Ab Band district.

-- A combined force detained an insurgent in Ghazni’s Waghaz district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Ghazni’s Qarah Bagh district.

-- In the Barak district of Logar province, a combined force found and cleared two IEDs.

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

-- In Nangarhar’s Nazyan district, a combined force found and cleared an IED.

-- A combined force detained an insurgent in Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district.

In a July 7 operation, a combined force detained two Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leaders and two other suspects in the Kunduz district of Kunduz province. The detained IMU leaders were directly involved in the construction of IEDs and their use in insurgent attacks. Both leaders are associated with senior IMU leadership and participated in high-profile suicide attack planning, including a failed attack in January, officials said.

Combined Force Detains Taliban Weapons Supplier

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, July 5, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban weapons supplier in the Chimtal district of Afghanistan’s Balkh province today, military officials reported.

The weapons supplier provided firearms, explosives and improvised explosive devices to Taliban insurgents throughout the region, officials said. At the time of his arrest, he was in the process of acquiring IEDs for upcoming attacks.

The security force also detained another suspected insurgent during the operation, officials said.

Also today, officials confirmed that Taliban leader Nek Mohammad was killed July 1 in the Sar-e Pul district of Sar-e Pul province. Mohammad had served as a senior Taliban leader in the region and directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

Officials also confirmed today that a Taliban leader known as Hamza was killed July 2 in the Ghazni district of Ghazni province. Hamza had managed several Taliban insurgents and coordinated attacks with other Taliban leaders throughout the region.

In operations around Afghanistan today:

-- A combined force in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province apprehended a Taliban leader and detained two other insurgents. The detained Taliban leader led an attack cell and coordinated high-profile attacks. At the time of his arrest, he was attempting to acquire suicide vests and more than 110 pounds of explosives.

-- A combined force detained a Taliban leader and several other suspects in the Pul-e Alam district of Logar province. The apprehended Taliban leader was responsible for attacks against coalition security patrols throughout the region and the killing of multiple Afghan soldiers in May.

In operations yesterday:

-- A combined force seized more than 40 pounds of opium during a search for a Taliban leader in Kandahar’s Panjwai district.

-- A combined force discovered and cleared two IEDs, one in Ghazni province’s Ab Band District and another in the province’s Qarah Bagh district.

-- A combined force killed two insurgents and detained three others in Ghazni province’s Dehyak district.

-- A combined force killed an insurgent in Khost province’s Qalandar district, and another combined force found and cleared an IED in the province’s Khost district.

-- Combined forces found and cleared two IEDs in Paktika province’s Sar Rowzah district and another in the province’s Wazah Kwah district.

-- A combined force killed five insurgents and detained a suspect in Paktia province’s Lajah Ahmadkhel district.