IJC Operational Update, May 31

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

05.31.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan-international force used a precision air strike to kill Taliban commander Haji Amir, one of the two most senior Taliban leaders in Kandahar province, and several of his fighters Sunday morning in Panjwa'i District.

Haji Amir and his fighters had been tracked for several days, and when they stopped at a small unoccupied mud hut in a farming area near the village of Zangabad, the combined force called in the air strike.

The Taliban leader operated throughout Dand, Zhari and Panjwa'i Districts. He escaped from Sarposa Prison in a Taliban coordinated prison break in June, 2008.

Most recently Amir had been in Pakistan planning the Taliban's upcoming attacks, and he returned to Afghanistan in April to lead attacks against coalition and Afghan forces.

A separate Afghan-international security force detained multiple individuals while searching a series of compounds in Helmand province last night.

The combined force went to compounds in a rural area north of Lashkar Gar, Nahr-e Saraj District, after intelligence information discovered insurgent activity.

Several of the suspects fled the compound areas but were quickly and safely caught. Weapons and approximately 30 kilograms of wet opium were seized during the search.

No shots were fired and no one was harmed during this operation.

• Date Taken: 05.31.2010
• Date Posted: 05.31.2010 04:55
• Story ID: 50575
• Location: KABUL, AF