Security force continues to target election attackers

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

09.24.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition security forces conducted seven operations in five Afghan provinces in the past week against insurgents who actively planned to disrupt Saturday's parliamentary elections.

This week's operations resulted in three insurgent leaders captured and three leaders killed, all of whom has actively participated in attacks during Saturday's elections. Clear rules of engagement and extreme measures taken to avoid civilian casualties resulted in 83 percent of the operations conducted without shots fired and no civilian causalities.

"Afghan and coalition security force operations against insurgents who intimidated the free people of Afghanistan from going to the polls last week have intensified," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director.

"The people of Afghanistan showed their defiance to the insurgents by their willingness to vote regardless of the threats against them. The people of Afghanistan have spoken and want elected officials to run their country."

In the north Tuesday, a Taliban district commander for Baghlan-e Jadid district of Baghlan province was captured, while two Taliban insurgents including Mullah Mahboob Elahi, a senior Taliban leader and weapons facilitator in Baghlan province were killed.

During the same operation, several other insurgents were detained. The district commander was linked to several attacks during the Saturday elections. During the past week assault forces in the south yielded success against Taliban and Haqqani leadership capturing a Haqqani sub-commander and high-level Taliban facilitator.

The captured Haqqani sub-commander was directly linked to attacks during the election as well as previous attacks during high profiles events in Khost province, threatening government officials and citizens. The high-level Taliban insurgent was captured in Ghazni province after intelligence tips led the security force to a compound in Waghaz District. He was responsible for the planning and coordination of attacks during the recent election.

Four coalition airstrikes occurred in eastern Afghanistan. On Saturday, a precision air strike targeted a Haqqani facilitator who was planning vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks during the elections. The following day a Haqqani sub-commander who was preparing to conduct improvised explosive device attacks during Saturday's election was tracked along to a remote area in Sayyid Karam District. The final two precision air strikes killed Abdul Jabar, a Haqqani Network sub-commander, and Qari Mansur, a senior Haqqani facilitator, respectively.

Both were involved in attacks against Afghan people during the elections. In all four precision air strikes, insurgent activity was identified and carefully conducted planning was done to ensure no civilians were present.

• Date Taken: 09.24.2010
• Date Posted: 09.24.2010 07:49
• Story ID: 56889
• Location: KABUL, AF