Coalition, Afghan Troops Arrest 2 Taliban Leaders

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 26, 2012 – A combined coalition and Afghan security force arrested two Taliban leaders -- an attack commander and an improvised explosive device expert -- during an operation in the Ghazni district of Afghanistan’s Ghazni province today, military officials reported.

The attack commander is suspected of having directed IED attacks against coalition and Afghan security forces across the district, officials said, in addition to coordinating the construction of homemade bombs and providing training on their use and placement. He also is believed to be involved in suicide bomber training. The security force also detained three other suspected insurgents in the operation.

Also today, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Ghazni province’s Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani district. He is believed to have coordinated with insurgent groups to conduct direct-fire and IED attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also detained four other suspected insurgents.

In operations around Afghanistan yesterday:

-- A precision airstrike killed Malang, a Taliban leader, in the Sayyidabad district of Afghanistan’s Wardak province after a combined security force saw him engaged in insurgent activity and ensured that no civilians were in the area. Malang was directly involved in planning attacks using improvised explosive devices against Afghan and coalition forces, as well coordinating the movement of insurgent fighters throughout the region. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.

-- Provincial Response Company Wardak, mentored by coalition forces, reinforced another response company patrol that came under enemy fire in Wardak province’s Maidan Shahr district. The combined force defeated the attack, killing seven insurgents. Responding to a request for a quick-reaction force, the combined element reached the unit in contact and was itself engaged by small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire from insurgents before fighting off the attack. Coalition officials said the rapid and effective response from PRC Wardak demonstrates their increased capability and their dedication to supporting their fellow Afghans in arms.

-- A combined U.S. Army Special Forces and Afghan National Army force killed an insurgent after being attacked at a local bazaar and at a combined outpost in Wardak province’s Bahadur village. After eight to 10 insurgents opened fire with small arms and rocket propelled grenades, the combined force returned fire, secured the bazaar and village, and killed the insurgent at his fighting position. No civilians or Afghan forces were injured or killed during the engagement.

In a Sept. 24 operation, a combined security force arrested a Haqqani network IED attack leader in Khost province’s Khost district. Officials said he is suspected of coordinating and planning IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region and was directly involved in acquiring and distributing a large amount of explosives and weapons, as well as providing training on the use of homemade bombs. He also is believed to have been trying to infiltrate Afghan security forces. The security force also seized firearms and heavy weapons ammunition.

In other news, an orphaned Afghan boy escaped from insurgents who were trying to use him as a suicide bomber and fled to the Afghan National Police in Helmand province’s Nawa district Sept. 22.

The boy told Afghan police that insurgents had given him money to influence him to wear a suicide vest and detonate it near coalition or Afghan security personnel. He refused, and now is receiving care and support from the police.

Officials Confirm Recent Taliban Death, Arrests

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 12, 2012 – Afghan and coalition security forces today confirmed the death or arrest in recent days of three key Taliban operatives.

Officials confirmed the death of Sherzad Khan, a Taliban attack leader, during an operation yesterday in the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province. He is believed to have conducted weapons and explosives training for Taliban insurgents. The security force also detained several suspected insurgents and destroyed a cache of assault rifles, grenades, explosives and illegal narcotics.

A senior Taliban facilitator was arrested yesterday along with another suspected insurgent in the Talah wa Barfak district of Afghanistan’s Baghlan province, officials confirmed. The facilitator is believed to be a major figure in the region’s improvised explosive device network, which had targeted Afghan and coalition security forces and Afghan civilians.

Officials also confirmed today the Sept. 9 arrest in the Waghaz district of Ghazni province of a Taliban leader believed to have coordinated the movement of foreign insurgents throughout eastern Ghazni while providing guidance and equipment for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also detained several other suspects.

In Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined force in the Zharay district of Kandahar province arrested a Taliban IED cell leader suspected of being responsible for the emplacement of multiple roadside bombs in and around central Kandahar. He also is believed to have coordinated the movement of explosives throughout the district and planned to use drug money to purchase insurgent supplies and weapons. The combined force also detained two other suspects.

-- A combined force arrested a Taliban IED specialist, detained several suspected insurgents, and seized bomb components in Kandahar’s Kandahar district.

-- In the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province, a combined force detained two suspects during a search for a Taliban cell leader.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search in the Deh Yak district of Ghazni province for a Taliban leader believed to serve as the senior liaison among insurgent groups operating in central and eastern Afghanistan, including the Taliban and al-Qaida.

-- In the Terayzai district of Khost province, a combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Haqqani network leader suspected of providing insurgents with explosives and firearms to use in attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces.

Combined Force Kills Insurgents in Laghman Province

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed several armed insurgents during an operation to arrest a Taliban attack commander in the Alisheng district of Afghanistan’s Laghman province today, military officials reported.

The insurgents were killed by return fire after they fired on the security force as it cleared the Taliban commander’s suspected compound and secured the area.

The security force detained several suspected insurgents in the operation.

Also today, a combined force in Ghazni province’s Waghaz district detained several suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader who is believed to be responsible for transporting and equipping foreign insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

In operations yesterday:

-- A combined security force in the Kandahar district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province arrested a Taliban attack coordinator who is suspected of planning and directing multiple attacks throughout central Kandahar and is believed to have also plotted several assassination attempts against Afghan officials. At the time of his arrest, officials said, he was believed to be planning an imminent suicide attack against Afghan security forces. The security force also detained another suspected insurgent in the operation.

-- A combined force in Helmand province’s Now Zad district detained numerous suspected insurgents and more than 25 pounds of illegal narcotics during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader who is believed to be responsible for equipping insurgents with mortars and heavy weapons for attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces.

-- Afghan and coalition forces in Laghman province’s Alisheng district killed numerous armed insurgents during a security operation to arrest a Taliban leader. During the operation, Afghan and coalition forces identified multiple insurgents armed with assault rifles and a heavy machine gun maneuvering near their position. After ensuring that no civilians were in the area, the security force engaged the armed insurgents with a precision airstrike. A post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was damaged and no civilians were harmed.

In Sept. 8 operations:

-- Afghan and coalition security forces detained a suspected suicide attack facilitator in Nangarhar province’s Jalalabad district. At the time of his arrest, he was believed to be involved in planning an imminent suicide-bomb attack in the region.

-- In Helmand province’s Nahr-e Saraj district, security combined force arrested a Taliban improvised explosive device cell leader who is suspected of directing attacks against Afghan and coalition convoys. In the weeks prior to his arrest, the Taliban IED cell leader is believed to have conducted an attack that wounded several coalition security force members.

-- A combined force found and destroyed a Taliban weapons cache and detained several suspected insurgents in Sar-e Pul province’s Sar-e Pul district. The cache included assault rifles and grenades, explosives, ammunition and bomb components.

-- In the Kunduz district of Kunduz province, security combined force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator suspected of providing money, ammunition and explosives to insurgents.

In other news, an Afghan special police unit and coalition forces recovered narcotics, weapons and explosives, including more than 500 pounds of heroin and 600 kilograms of opium, during a three-day operation that began Sept. 6 in Helmand province’s Washir district.

During the operation, the combined force came under small-arms attack and killed several insurgents with return fire. Afterward, the combined force found pressure plate bombs and components, homemade explosives, rocket-propelled grenades, small arms and ammunition.

Combined Force Arrests Taliban Weapons Supplier

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban weapons supplier during an operation in the Andar district of Afghanistan’s Ghazni province today, military officials reported.

The weapons supplier provided Taliban leaders in Ghazni with improvised explosive devices, other weapons and ammunition, officials said.

The security force also detained two additional suspected insurgents during the operation.

Also today, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader and detained two other suspects in the Kandahar district of Kandahar province. The Taliban leader distributed weapons and explosives to Taliban fighters. He also is suspected of being involved in planning the assassination of an Afghan government official in Kandahar.

In an operation yesterday in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province, a combined force found mortar rounds, two IEDs, bomb-making equipment, and 7,716 pounds of ammonium nitrate, a compound used to produce homemade explosives.

Combined Forces Detain Insurgents, Seize Weapons

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 24, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents and seized multiple weapons and ammunition today during an operation to arrest an al-Qaeda associated Taliban leader in the Andar district of Afganistan’s Ghazni province, military officials reported.

The Taliban leader acquires weapons and directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region, officials said.

Two armed insurgents attacked the security force during the operation. The security force engaged and killed both attackers. No civilians were injured in the exchange.

In other news today:

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents today during an operation in Logar province’s Baraki Barak district to arrest a Haqqani leader who directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Baraki Barak and Pul-e ‘Alam districts.

-- A combined force in Logar province’s Muhammad Aghah district detained several suspected insurgents today in an operation to find a Taliban leader who, officials said, plans and directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.