Two senior insurgent leaders killed during operations in northern Afghanistan

Districts of Faryab. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KABUL, Afghanistan (Apr. 9) — An Afghan Special Operations Unit and coalition troops killed a senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader during an operation in Almar district, Faryab province, earlier this week.

The leader, Osmani Sahib, was one of multiple IMU members killed in an exchange of fire that resulted from the insurgents' attempt to attack the combined Afghan and coalition force during the operation.

Osmani was recently promoted to replace Makhdum Nusrat, the former highest ranking IMU insurgent in Afghanistan, after Makhdum was killed during an operation by an Afghan special unit supported by coalition troops in Shirin Tagab district March 26.

In addition, the security force captured an insurgent facilitator along with an additional insurgent, and destroyed several AK-47s and bomb-making materials.

During a separate operation in Warduj district, Badakhshan province, an operation planned by an Afghan Special Operations Unit and coalition troops killed Shamsuddin, a senior Taliban leader, with a precision air strike Saturday.

Shamsuddin was the Taliban leader associated with multiple recent insurgent attacks in Warduj, including the April 2 attack of an Afghan National Police checkpoint. Three policemen were killed and 11 were captured. Last December, he directed the attack against Aq Shirah Village that left four Afghan policemen dead.

Shamsuddin was also responsible for several improvised explosive device attacks and suicide bombings against Afghan and coalition forces in the area.

After ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force called for the air strike. A follow-on assessment of the area after the strike determined no civilians were harmed.

Posted in: Afghan National Police, Afghanistan, Almar District, Faryab Province, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Shirin Tagab District, Taliban