The arrested senior leader is suspected of maintaining working relationships with multiple Haqqani senior leaders. He is also believed to be responsible for planning and directing attacks on Afghan and coalition forces, smuggling weapons, and improvised explosive device placement throughout both Pul-e ‘Alam and Baraki Barak, Logar province.
He also is alleged to have managed the storage and delivery of both IEDs and multiple assault rifles to Taliban insurgents for use against Afghan and coalition forces.
The security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents as a result of the operation.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:
North
An Afghan and coalition forces detained a number of suspected insurgents during a security operation in search of a Taliban senior leader in Qal‘ah-ye Zal district, Kunduz province, today. The Taliban leader is believed to be planning a future attack targeting Afghan and coalition forces.
South
Afghan and coalition forces today confirmed the death of Taliban leader during a security operation in Zhari district, Kandahar province, Thursday. Mullah Abdul Ghafar Akhund was a Panjwayi-based Taliban leader. During the operation, the security force positively identified Abdul and other militants engaging in insurgent activity in an isolated area away from civilians. The security force conducted a precision airstrike, killing Abdul and two additional insurgents. He is believed to have organized numerous IED attacks and coordinated the movement of weapons and ammunition for use against Afghan and coalition forces. In the days leading to the operation, Abdul was suspected of being involved in an attack against Afghan and coalition forces. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no property was damaged as a result of the operation.
Afghan and coalition forces killed a number of insurgents during an operation in Panjwayi district, Kandahar province, today. After positively identifying the insurgents burying an IED and ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged with a precision airstrike, killing the insurgents. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.
Afghan Special Police and coalition forces, enabled by the Ministry of Interior’s Special Mission Wing, recovered hundreds of kilograms of narcotics and weapons during operations throughout Helmand province between Sept. 22 and Oct. 6. The missions resulted in the recovery of nearly 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds) of hashish, 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) of marijuana seeds, 190 kilograms (420 pounds) of poppy seeds, several rocket-propelled grenade warheads, one suicide bomber vest and nearly twenty weapons. The combined force also engaged and killed several insurgents during the two weeks of operations. (Photos available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/isafmedia/8058527435/in/photostream; http://www.flickr.com/photos/isafmedia/8058527621/in/photostream)
An International Security Assistance Force unit seized a large amount of explosives during a targeted raid on a suspected insurgent compound in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, yesterday. The coalition force discovered 725 kilograms (1,600 pounds) of explosives materials during the operation, and destroyed all but a small portion retained for future exploitation, on site. No civilians were harmed during the operation.
East
A Taliban commander was confirmed killed today as a result of a recent operation by Afghan Commandos, National Police, National Army and coalition forces in Chak district, Wardak province. The Taliban commander, Asad, commanded an insurgent cell specializing in IED emplacement and assassinations. Coalition forces said Asad was responsible for the assassination of Chak-E Wardak District Gov. Mohammad Ismail Wafa and his son, who were gunned down in a car in July as they traveled to the governor’s office. Asad is also believed to be responsible for the deaths and injuries of several Afghan civilians, killed by IEDs planted by his cell. The recent operation in Wardak, according to Afghan and coalition officials, is hailed as a major blow to the insurgency in the area.
Afghan Local Police defended themselves against a large attack on their security checkpoint, killing a reported dozens of insurgents outside of Marzak Village, Sar Howzah district, Paktika province, Thursday. The insurgents attacked the checkpoint, located near a girls' school, with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. The Marzak ALP, partnered with Afghan Uniformed Police, National Army Special Forces and coalition special operations forces, quickly responded to the attack, repelling the insurgents and forcing them to flee south into the mountains. Additionally, a few ALP members taken captive by the insurgents during the attack were rescued, received medical treatment and are in stable condition. No civilians were harmed in the engagement.
An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban senior leader in Waghaz district, Ghazni province, today. As the security force approached the Taliban leader’s location, several armed insurgents maneuvered from the compound. The security force identified the threat and engaged, killing one armed insurgent. No civilians were harmed in the exchange. The arrested leader is alleged to have conducted complex attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, involving the use of improvised explosive devices, mortars and rockets. He was also believed to be in charge of the Taliban education system for all of Ghazni province. The security force also detained one suspected insurgent and seized multiple grenades, several blasting caps, and weapon’s accessories as a result of the operation.
An Afghan and coalition force detained a number of suspected insurgents during a security operation in search of a Haqqani facilitator in Dzadran district, Paktia province, today. The Haqqani facilitator is suspected of coordinating the acquisition of suicide vests and weapons to be used in targeted attacks on Afghan and coalition forces.
Afghan and coalition forces killed a number of insurgents during an operation in Dzadran district, Paktia province, today. During the operation, the security force positively identified the militants engaging in insurgent activity in an isolated area away from civilians. The security force conducted a precision airstrike, killing the insurgents. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.
An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Taliban leader in Achin district, Nangarhar province, today. The arrested leader is believed to provide lodging, weapons, to include rockets and mortars, and intelligence knowledge to support the Taliban insurgency within Nangarhar province. During the operation, the security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents and seized a firearm and explosive material.
An Afghan and coalition security force killed two armed insurgents during a security operation in Watahpur district, Kunar province, today. During the operation, the security force positively identified a group of armed insurgents preparing to attack Afghan and coalition forces. After ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged the insurgents with a precision airstrike, killing two. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.
Afghan and coalition forces rescued a number of Afghan civilians held hostage in a Taliban compound in Nawah district, Ghazni province, during an Afghan-led operation yesterday. The insurgent captors fled the compound when they saw the combined force approaching. The hostages were found in poor health but have received medical care and are recovering. No casualties were sustained during the operation. The individuals were reportedly kidnapped by Taliban on Highway 1 in the vicinity of Mohammad Aziz Khan Kala village seven days earlier. Two of the rescued individuals are farmers from Nawah district and three are local villagers from Moqur district, Ghazni province.
Capital
The Afghan Special Police Crisis Response Unit enabled by coalition forces seized a large cache of weapons during a short-notice operation in Surobi district, Kabul province, yesterday. The combined force recovered 85 mortar rounds, nearly two dozen recoilless rifle rounds and 20 rocket propelled grenades. This successful mission, according to a coalition official, shows the CRU’s ability to disrupt the insurgent network in Surobi and degrade their ability to conduct attacks. No shots were fired during the operation and no casualties were sustained. (Photo available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/isafmedia/8058525430/in/photostream)
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