KABUL, Afghanistan - During an Afghan and coalition security operation
in Sayyidabad district, Wardak province, yesterday, a Taliban commander
was observed providing weapons and ammunition to insurgents.
He was known to be involved in recruiting insurgents, acquiring weapons
and explosives, and planning attacks throughout the region.
After ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity of the target and in
defense of others, the security force called for an airstrike. A
follow-on assessment of the area after the strike determined no
civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged. The Taliban
leader and multiple insurgents were killed as a result of the precision
airstrike.
Security forces detained multiple additional insurgents and seized a
recoilless rifle, a heavy machine gun, multiple AK-47s, grenades, and
mortar rounds.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:
North
An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture
a Taliban leader in
Almar district, Faryab province, today. The Taliban
leader organizes roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and
coalition forces throughout the district. He also serves as a Taliban
judge and attempts to impose Taliban law on the civilians in the area.
During the operation, multiple insurgents opened fired on the combined
force with multiple weapons including grenades and a heavy machine gun
as the security force approached the leader’s suspected location.
Responding to the immediate threat, the Afghan and coalition troops
returned fire and after ensuring no civilians were in the area, called
in a precision air strike. A follow-on assessment of the area after the
strike determined that the five insurgents were killed and no civilians
were harmed. The security force also detained several insurgents and
recovered multiple AK-47s, RPGs, a heavy machine gun and explosive
device components.
In Baghlan-e Jadid district, Baghlan province, an Afghan-led security
force captured a Taliban leader during an operation today. The leader
coordinated roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and
coalition security forces. He also supplied weapons, ammunition and
equipment to insurgents. The Security Force seized multiple weapons and
ammunition. The security force fired no shots and damaged no civilian
property as a result of this operation.
South
In Khash Rod district, Nimroz province, a combined Afghan and coalition
security force discovered a drug cache during a routine patrol,
yesterday. The cache consisted of 185 pounds (85 kilograms) of wet
opium, which the security force destroyed on-site.
An Afghan and coalition security force captured a senior Taliban leader
during an operation in Khash Rod district, Nimroz province, today. The
leader was directly involved in the planning and coordination of
roadside bombings, suicide bombings, and other attacks against Afghan
and coalition security forces in central Helmand. The security force
fired no shots and damaged no civilian property as a result of this
operation.
In
Shah Wali Kot district, Kandahar province, an Afghan and coalition
security force conducted an operation to capture a Taliban facilitator
today. The facilitator provides weapons to insurgents for attacks
against Afghan and coalition security forces in Daman and Arghistan
districts. The insurgents fired on the security force as they approached
the facilitator’s suspected location. Responding to the immediate
threat, the security force returned fire and called in a precision air
strike killing three insurgents. No civilians were injured and no
civilian property was damaged. The security force also detained one
insurgent and seized several weapons as a result of this operation.
East
In
Andar district, Ghazni province, an Afghan and coalition security
force captured a Taliban leader during an operation today. The leader
coordinated roadside bombings, suicide attacks and other operations
against Afghan officials, Afghan security forces and coalition troops in
the district. The security force also detained four additional
insurgents as a result of the operation.
An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to capture
a Taliban leader in
Zurmat district,
Paktiya province, today. The
leader organizes roadside bombings, suicide attacks and other operations
against Afghan and coalition security forces in
Gardez district. The
security force detained two suspected insurgents as a result of this
operation.