KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan-led security force, supported by
coalition troops, arrested a Taliban senior leader in
Gardez district,
Paktia province, today.
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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