KABUL, Afghanistan –– Coalition forces conducted a precision air strike in Takhar province yesterday, killing Qari Mahmad Umar, an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan senior leader, who was serving as the Taliban district leader for Khwajah Bahawuddin.
Umar was an improvised explosive device expert and trainer involved in facilitating supplies as well as constructing and emplacing IED's in northern Takhar and Kunduz provinces.
“While operations continue around Kandahar, we have not lost focus on insurgent operations in the north,” said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. “We continue to challenge their operations and assist in the Afghan government-led security and development initiatives.”
Acting on intelligence tips, coalition forces tracked Qari Mahmad Umar to an open area in Bahawuddin district. After careful planning to ensure no civilians were present, coalition forces conducted a precision air strike.
Although a ground force was unable to conduct an immediate assessment of the engagement area, they confirmed Qari Mahmad Umar, along with one of his associates, was killed in the strike.