Taliban district commander removed from battlefield

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

09.15.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL – Multiple intelligence sources and tips from local citizens led coalition forces to the location of a known Taliban district commander who was targeted in a coalition airstrike in Wardak province Tuesday.

The target, Hamdullah, a Taliban commander, was killed in the targeted strike. He was also an explosives expert, also specializing in facilitating suicide bombers.

According to intelligence reports, Hamdullah received extensive training in Pakistan in the manufacturing and emplacing of IED's and construction of suicide vests. He was also directly responsible for ordering attacks, as well as emplacing IED's throughout Wardak.

Hamdullah was also known to have facilitated recent suicide bombing in Kabul and was actively planning attacks in Kabul and surrounding provinces in hopes of disrupting the upcoming elections.

Initial reports indicate there were no civilians in the area during the strike.

“We continue to capture or kill Taliban leadership in an effort to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan,” said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. “These operations are taking a significant toll on the Taliban leadership and their will to fight.”

• Date Taken: 09.15.2010
• Date Posted: 09.15.2010 05:24
• Story ID: 56294
• Location: KABUL, AF