Forces in Afghanistan Disrupt Taliban Operations

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

12.07.2009

Courtesy Story

Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs           

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces detained several suspected militants, including a bomb cell leader and Taliban commander, in operations in Afghanistan over the past three days, military officials reported.

An international security force conducted an air strike today, destroying a known Taliban stronghold consisting of bunkers and enemy defensive positions in Kunar province. The force targeted the stronghold near Tsangar Darah village in the mountainous Watapur District after intelligence sources indicated militant activity there.

Also today, an Afghan and international security force in Khost province detained a suspected Haqqani terrorist network bombing cell leader and several other militants after searching a compound near Kuzah Kala village in Terayzai District where intelligence sources reported the cell leader to be located.

The combined force searched the compound without incident and detained several militants, including the cell leader. The force also recovered assault rifles, hand grenades and bomb-making materials.

In another operation, an Afghan and international security force killed several enemy militants and wounded another in northern Paktika province while pursuing a Taliban commander. The militant commander is believed to be responsible for weapons trafficking, kidnapping Afghan civilians and planning several bomb attacks in the area.

The combined security force targeted a compound near Tawdobay Kalay village in Sar Hawza District where intelligence reported militant activity. The combined force received hostile fire and returned fire. A security element searched the enemy fighting position and recovered several assault rifles and chest racks loaded with ammunition magazines. The force provided medical attention to the wounded enemy militant and later transported him to a military medical treatment facility.

Another combined force detained a few suspected militants in Zabul province while pursuing a Taliban commander responsible for several small-arms and bomb attacks in the area. The force searched a compound near Nowkhiz village in Qalat District where intelligence sources reported militant activity and detained the militants without incident.

In operations yesterday, an international security force carried out an air strike and killed a group of enemy militants in Laghman province that placed homemade bombs along a road near Hakimabad village in Arlingar District.

After the air strike, Afghan and international security forces cleared the site, found the homemade bombs and destroyed them.

Elsewhere, an Afghan and international security force detained a Taliban commander and another militant after searching a compound in Kandahar province. The commander is believed to be responsible for several bomb attacks and for distributing arms and bomb-making materials to insurgents in the area.

The combined force targeted a compound near Rigwai Sofla village in the Panjawi District where reliable intelligence sources said the Taliban commander was located. The force searched the compound without incident and detained two militants, including the Taliban commander.

In Ghanzi province, another combined force searched a compound near Mian Kheyl village in Wali Mohammad Shaheed District without incident and detained a suspected militant.

In a Dec. 5 operation, an Afghan and international security force detained a group of militants while searching for a senior Taliban commander in northern Kandahar province. The commander is believed to be responsible for several attacks and distributing weapons and bomb-making materials to other militant forces in the area.

Several militants were killed when they attacked the combined force searching a compound near Shotor Gardan village in Khakriz District where the commander was believed to be located.

No civilians were harmed during any of these operations, officials said.

• Date Taken: 12.07.2009
• Date Posted: 12.07.2009 15:46
• Story ID: 42419
• Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US