UPDATE: ISAF confirms status of Taliban leader

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

12.20.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – The International Security Assistance Force confirmed Qari Hijratullah Nabi, a senior Taliban leader, was killed in a coalition precision air strike along with two insurgents in Nangarhar province Dec. 18.

The targeted individual was a senior leader who recently assumed his Taliban leadership role after the death of the former district leader. He planned vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks against coalition forces in the region. Additionally, earlier this month, he planned to use 16 individuals as suicide bombers in an attack against Jalalabad Air Field.

Based on intelligence sources, coalition forces tracked the IED cell to an area in Sherzad District. The targeted individuals were observed emplacing an IED on the side of the road. After careful planning to protect any civilians and property in the immediate area, coalition forces conducted a precision air strike.

A follow-on force conducted a ground assessment and identified and destroyed a 40-pound explosive device and device-making material. The ground force assessed the Taliban leader and two other insurgents were killed.

Coalition forces conducted the operation in the hours of darkness to minimize the risk to local citizens. No women or children were injured during the operation.

• Date Taken: 12.20.2010
• Date Posted: 12.20.2010 00:07
• Story ID: 62297
• Location: KABUL, AF