Forces Confirm Deaths of 2 Taliban Leaders

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 11, 2012 – Afghan and coalition forces today confirmed the death of two senior Taliban leaders, including the suspected mastermind of an August 2008 ambush that left numerous French soldiers dead and 21 wounded, military officials reported.

The Taliban leaders -- Mullah Hazrat and Shakir -- were killed in a precision airstrike Sept. 9, officials said, when Afghan and coalition forces positively identified a group of armed insurgents in the Alisheng district of Laghman province and engaged them.

Hazrat is believed to have planned and directed the Aug. 18, 2008, ambush, 40 miles east of Kabul, which resulted in a two-day running battle between coalition and Afghan security forces and more than 100 Taliban insurgents, officials said.

In the years since, Hazrat was promoted to serve as the Taliban leader for the Alisheng district, officials said. He is believed to have ordered several attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in recent months, including the use of suicide bombers in Kabul. He also coordinated the movement of foreign insurgents from Pakistan into Afghanistan.

Shakir, also known as Attullah, was one of Hazrat’s associates and is believed to be responsible for several ambushes and attacks throughout western Laghman province, officials said. At the time of his death, Shakir was suspected of attempting to recruit foreign insurgents to rebuild his attack cell.

In operations in Afghanistan today:

-- A combined force detained numerous suspects and found and destroyed a Taliban weapons cache in the Pul-e Alam district of Logar province. The cache contained several rocket-propelled grenades and RPG components, grenades, heavy and small-arms ammunition, a firearm and bomb components.

-- A combined force killed an armed insurgent and detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban leader in the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province. The security force also seized and safely destroyed multiple assault rifles, several grenades and grenade components, and some illegal narcotics and homemade explosives.

-- A combined force detained two suspects during a search for an improvised explosive device facilitator in the Talah wa Barfak district of Baghlan province. The facilitator is believed to coordinate the movement of IED components throughout the district for insurgent attacks.

In operations yesterday:

-- A combined force discovered and cleared 31 IEDs in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province during a two-day operation. In total, the discovered IEDs consisted of more than 200 pounds of homemade explosives.

-- Coalition patrols seized more than 1,600 pounds of opium and detained two suspected narcotics smugglers in the Dishu and Nawah-ye Barakzai districts of Helmand province. In both incidents, the units investigated the area after observing suspicious activity through aerial surveillance. The seized opium was destroyed.

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 Forces Confirm Death of al-Qaida Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2012 – Afghan and coalition forces today confirmed the death of Hanzallah, an al-Qaida leader who operated in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

Hanzallah was killed July 1 during a security operation in the Watahpur district of Afghanistan’s Kunar province, officials said.

Hanzallah acted as a military advisor to insurgents in Kunar, Nuristan and Laghman provinces and provided them with improvised explosive device training, officials said. Officials noted that Hanzallah was one of several al-Qaida terrorists killed during the security operation.

Also today, an airstrike called in by a combined force killed several insurgents in the Bermal district of Paktika province.

In operations yesterday:

-- A combined force killed two insurgents in Ghazni province’s Giro district.

-- A combined force killed four insurgents in Ghazni province’s Andar district.

-- Combined forces found and safely cleared IEDs in Ghazni province’s Ab Band and Qarah Bagh districts.

-- A combined force detained an insurgent in Khost province’s Gurbuz district.

-- Combined forces detained three insurgents in Khowst province’s Khowst districtand found and safely cleared an IED in Khost’s Sabari district.

-- A combined force killed an insurgent in Kunar province’s Watahpur district, and another detained two insurgents in Kunar’s Sar Kani district.

-- A combined force killed four insurgents in Logar province’s Charkh district.

-- A combined force detained two insurgents in Paktika province’s Sar Rowzah district.

-- Afghan national security forces and coalition forces killed three insurgents in Paktia province’s Shwak district.

-- A combined force detained two insurgents in Paktia’s Zurmat district.

-- A combined force found and safely cleared three IEDs, killed two insurgents and detained five others in Wardak province’s Qarah Bagh district.

-- A combined force found and safely cleared two IEDs in Wardak’s Sayyadabad district.

In a June 30 operation, a combined force killed numerous insurgents and seized 220 pounds of poppy seed, 11 pounds of wet opium, IED-making components, 700 7.62mm rounds and weapons in the Shiray Kajaki and Baghran districts of Helmand province.

Afghanistan: New York Army National Guard member teaches refresher class on Afghan criminal law to local police officers

By Army 1st Lt. Christine Rosalin

117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LAGMAN, Afghanistan - Kicking off the first class in a series of legal training, the leadership of the Afghan Uniformed Police Qalat Substation 1 participated in a refresher class in Afghan criminal law at the Provincial Meeting Center in Qalat City June 5.

The class was run by Army Maj. Maj. Roderick J. Cassidy, a member of the New York Army National Guard who is assigned to the judge advocate general office for the U.S. Army Stabilization and Transition Team, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

 

 Cassidy provided the basic principles and fundamentals of Afghan criminal law so the AUP leadership could educate their patrolmen and provide governance for the populace of Qalat City.

“The instruction helped to continue building a more professional police force,” said Cassidy. “By training the leadership level of the AUP, they will be better able to instruct their subordinates at the checkpoint and substation level.”

During the course Cassidy covered the primary sources of Afghan criminal law and how they interrelate, said Cassidy.

“I also addressed different theories behind punishment and the legal, material and mental elements of a crime,” said Cassidy, who has been practicing law for more than 22 years. “I provided specific, everyday illustrations of some of the more complex legal theories to assure everyone understood their application.”

During the class, the officers of the AUP paid strict attention to the instruction, Cassidy said, adding that teaching the Afghan police officers was a different experience.

“I have taught military, criminal and civil law in the United States and this was a unique experience,” said Cassidy. “In the U.S., students are often anxious to express their opinions and engage in classroom discussion. In Afghanistan, students often seem interested almost exclusively in what the instructor, as the subject matter expert, has to say during class. They want to absorb as much as possible in the time allotted and can share their personal opinions with each other later.”

At the end of the class the AUP leadership responded positively to the refresher training and actively participated with responses, said Capt. Matt Yarnall, U.S. Army Security Forces Assistance Team Qalat City commander, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

The AUP commented on how beneficial this refresher training was to them and how they learned a lot, said Yarnall.   “They also agreed it is very important to know their laws, and they expressed how they are looking forward to more training in the near future,” he said.  

Combined Force Detains Taliban Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader and several other suspected insurgents in the Washer district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province today, military officials reported.

The leader was the senior Taliban leader in the Kajaki district, responsible for roadside bombings, suicide attacks and other operations against Afghan and coalition forces in Helmand province, officials said.

The detained Taliban leader was one of the planners of an April 10 suicide attack against the district police headquarters building in Musa Qalah. The insurgent leader also attempted to impose Taliban law on Afghan civilians and operated a Taliban prison.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained several suspects while searching for an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorist group leader in the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province. The insurgent leader plans and directs attacks against senior Afghan government officials, Afghan forces and coalition troops.

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. The leader directs roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader and detained one other suspect in Helmand’s Washer district. The leader planned and supervised roadside bombings against Afghan and coalition forces throughout central Helmand.

-- A combined force called in an airstrike that killed multiple insurgents during a search for a Haqqani leader in the Muhammad Aghah district of Logar province. The leader directs roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the Laghman and Nangarhar provinces. Two insurgents were detained during the operation.

-- In the Qarghahi district of Laghman province, an Afghan-led, coalition-supported force killed a Taliban leader and an associate, detained multiple suspects, and confiscated several small arms.

In operations yesterday:

-- A coalition airstrike killed five insurgents in Laghman province’s Alingar district.

-- A coalition airstrike killed five insurgents planting roadside bombs in Wardak province’s Maidan Shahr district. An explosive ordnance team safely detonated three roadside bombs after the airstrike.

-- A coalition airstrike killed an insurgent in Kunar province’s Watahpur district after he was positively identified as a Taliban commander. The individual led numerous small-arms attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Also, coalition forces killed an insurgent after receiving small-arms fire in the Watahpur district.

-- Afghan soldiers and coalition troops found an explosives laboratory in the Muqer district of Ghazni province and detained two people suspected to be involved with the lab. An explosive ordnance team safely destroyed the explosives.

-- Afghan police and coalition forces detained an insurgent wanted for planting roadside bombs in Khost province’s Khost district.