ISAF Joint Command morning operational update

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

08.05.2012

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition officials confirmed today that Mufti Assad, also known as Mufti Punjabi, Abdul Qudus and Sufyan, the al-Qaida network leader for Kunar province, was killed in a precision airstrike in Watahpur district, Kunar province, Friday.

Assad was an insurgent leader who controlled al-Qaida terrorists operating in Kunar. He led dozens of all-Qaida affiliated fighters throughout eastern Afghanistan and coordinated their attacks across the region.

Assad was also an explosives expert who provided training to insurgents on how to construct and use improvised explosive devices.

Afghan and coalition officials also confirmed Yusuf, Assad’s al-Qaida network deputy, was killed in the precision airstrike. Yusuf, also known as Omar and Rayhman, was an IED expert who directed insurgent attacks across eastern Afghanistan.

The strike did not injure any civilians or damage civilian property.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

The National Directorate of Security, supported by coalition forces, arrested Mullah Shah Wali and Mullah Zadar during separate operations in Uruzgan province, Tuesday. Both men were Taliban leaders in the province. Wali controlled more than two dozen insurgents, and was a key member of the improvised explosive device supply and facilitation network in the Tarin Kot district of Uruzgan province. He also led several attacks against Afghan National Police checkpoints throughout western Uruzgan. Zadar led a group of more than two dozen insurgents who are responsible for attacks against Afghan National Security Force checkpoints in the Deh Rafshan area of Uruzgan province.

East

Afghan and coalition officials confirmed today that the al-Qaida facilitator Fatah Gul was killed in a precision airstrike conducted during a second security operation in Watahpur district, Kunar province, Friday. Fatah Gul, also known as Inzir and Shahid, provided safe haven to al-Qaida affiliated terrorists operating in eastern Afghanistan. He also ran terrorist training camps where insurgents learned how to conduct improvised explosive devices attacks.

In Baraki Barak district, Logar province, today, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to arrest a Taliban leader. During the operation, the security force was attacked by an armed insurgent. The security force returned fire, killing the attacker. No civilians were harmed in the exchange. After the engagement, the security force detained several suspected insurgents and seized multiple weapons.

• Date Taken: 08.05.2012
• Date Posted: 08.05.2012 02:00
• Story ID: 92673
• Location: KABUL, AF