KABUL, Afghanistan – The International Security Assistance Force confirmed Afghan and coalition forces killed a key Taliban leader in the Bakwah district of Farah province Nov. 20.
Mullah Hafiz Janan was the Bakwah district shadow governor and a key leader involved in foreign-fighter facilitation and networking. He maintained ties with other senior Taliban leaders and supplied weapons and training to foreign fighters.
The security team followed Mullah Hafiz Janan and one of his associates as they traveled in the shadow governor’s known area of operations. The individuals were shot and killed after brandishing weapons and threatening the security force.
The joint security force detained several additional suspected insurgents at a targeted compound in a second operation later that night. One of the detainees later confirmed Mullah Hafiz Janan was killed in the first operation.
No women or children were injured or detained during these operations.