Afghans Lead Operation to Capture Taliban Leader

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 8, 2012 – An Afghan-led and coalition supported security force detained a senior Taliban leader in the Almar district of Afghanistan’s Faryab province today, military officials reported.

The leader organized roadside bombings, suicide attacks and other operations against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the province, officials said. He also coordinated funding and operational guidance with other Taliban leaders.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in Kandahar province’s Zharay district.

The leader directed roadside bombings against Afghan and coalition troops and operated illegal checkpoints. He also provided weapons and ammunition to insurgents in the area.

In Helmand province’s Sangin district, a combined security force detained several suspected insurgents yesterday while searching for a senior Taliban leader. Along with his brother, the wanted man is responsible for Taliban operations against Afghan and coalition security forces in Sangin and Kajaki districts. He was also active in intimidation and murder campaigns against Afghan civilians in northern Helmand who refuse to adhere to Taliban law.

An Afghan provincial response company, supported by coalition security forces, detained roadside bomb makers and several suspected insurgents and seized bomb components, explosives and weapons in Zabul province’s Shah Joy district May 5.

Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died April 4, in Faryab province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained during an enemy attack by a suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive device.  The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Ohio National Guard, Walbridge, Ohio.

Killed were:

Capt. Nicholas J. Rozanski, 36, of Dublin, Ohio.

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey J. Rieck, 45, of Columbus, Ohio.

Sgt. 1st Class Shawn T. Hannon, 44, of Grove City, Ohio.

For more information the media may contact Ohio National Guard Public Affairs at 614-336-7126 or 614-336-4499.

ISAF Commander Condemns Bomb Attack

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

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2012 – The commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan today condemned an improvised explosive device attack that killed three ISAF service members, four members of the Afghan security forces and six civilians yesterday.

The attack in Faryab province also wounded dozens of other civilians and coalition and Afghan security forces personnel.

“‘Despicable’ is the only word to describe the cold, heartless way in which the enemies of peace carried out this attack -- detonating an IED in the middle of a large crowd of civilians,” Marine Corps John R. Allen said. “My deepest condolences are with all the families of those killed yesterday, and the entire ISAF community prays for the complete recovery of those injured.

“Our partnership with the [Afghan forces] is resolute, intractable, and will not be deterred by these evil and cowardly attacks of desperation,” Allen continued. “We are committed to the long-term partnership with our brave Afghan brothers to help them assume responsibility for the security of the Afghan population.”

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- Afghan soldiers and coalition forces killed an insurgent in the Khogyani district of Ghazni province, and an Afghan patrol killed an insurgent in the Sperah district of Khost province.

-- Coalition forces found materials used in the production of mortars and IEDs in the Sayyidabad district of Wardak province.

-- In the Maiwand district of Kandahar province, a combined force found and destroyed 700 pounds of narcotics.

In other news, an Afghan provincial response company, supported by coalition forces, seized and destroyed IED components and weapons in the Tulak district of Ghor province April 3. The cache contained 12 small-arms weapons, 37 bomb components, 18 ammunition magazines, a mortar sight, six mortar fuses, some small-arms ammunition, two Afghan police uniforms and 4.5 pounds of ammonium nitrate, a banned fertilizer used in homemade explosives. Several insurgents were detained.

In an April 1 operation, Afghan forces, supported by coalition troops, detained several insurgents and seized small-arms weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and 770 pounds of dry opium in the Khash Rod district of Nimroz province.

Troops Kill Terror Group’s Senior Leader in Afghanistan

From an International Security Assistance Force News Release

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2012 – An Afghan special unit and coalition troops killed the senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in Afghanistan during a March 26 operation in the Shirin Tagab district of Faryab province, military officials reported.

During the operation, insurgents fired on the security force. The force returned fire, killing Makhdum Nusrat and several other insurgents, officials said.

Two other insurgents were detained, and the force seized a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, several rockets, and several assault rifles and grenades.

Makhdum led attacks against Afghan and coalition troops throughout the northern provinces for the last eight months and was plotting the assassination of an Afghan parliament member in the Afghan capital of Kabul, officials said.

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is a terrorist organization closely linked to al-Qaida and the Taliban. It conducts insurgent attacks in the northern region of Afghanistan, as well as in other Central Asian countries.

Combined Force Detains 2 Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2012 – An Afghan-coalition security force detained two insurgents during an operation to capture an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in the Shirin Tagab district of Afghanistan’s Faryab province today, military officials reported.

The sought-after insurgent leader plans and conducts attacks against coalition troops throughout northern Afghanistan, officials said. He also is linked to an attack plot against a senior Afghan official.

Insurgents engaged the security force with small-arms fire. The force returned fire, killing the insurgents. The force destroyed a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with several rockets, several assault rifles and some grenades.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- In the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province, a combined patrol detained a suspect while searching for a Taliban leader who directs roadside-bomb attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force in the Zurmat district of Paktia province captured a Taliban facilitator who prepared suicide bombers to attack Afghan and coalition security forces.

In other news, a combined force found about 4,500 pounds of ammonium nitrate for use in improvised explosive devices in the Marjah district of Helmand province yesterday.

In a March 24 operation, a combined force found five IEDs in an abandoned compound in the Musa Qalah district of Helmand province. An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the bombs. The same day, a combined force acting on tips from local civilians found and destroyed six IEDs in the Dilah wa Khoshamand district of Paktika province.