KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWSPF)–October 5, 2012 — Afghan and coalition forces killed a Taliban senior leader and strategist during a security operation in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, Thursday.
Senior Taliban leader Khan is believed to have planned and executed rocket attacks against Afghan and coalition assets. Additionally, he is alleged to have conducted multiple attacks against fuel tankers along the main supply route within Laghman province. More than 20 Taliban insurgents reported directly to Khan at the time of his death.
During the operation, the security force positively identified Khan and a number of additional individuals engaging in insurgent activity. After ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged Khan and the insurgents with a precision airstrike.
A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:
North
An Afghan and coalition security force killed numerous heavily-armed insurgents during an operation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in Dowlatabad district, Faryab province, today. As the security force approached the senior Taliban leader’s suspected location, the armed insurgents were ordered to disarm and leave the compound. The insurgents responded by opening fire on the Afghan and coalition troops. The security force returned fire, killing the insurgents. The Taliban senior leader is believed to be responsible for facilitating, planning and coordinating improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout Jowzjan province. During the operation, the security force also seized a weapons arsenal consisting of several automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, mines, and various IED-making materials. No civilians were harmed in the exchange.
South
Afghan Special Police and coalition forces yesterday confirmed the detention of local insurgent leader Muhammad Khan in a raid Monday in Nad-e Ali district, Helmand province. The captured leader is reputed to head a cell of insurgents and to closely follow the direction of regional Taliban leadership. He is believed to be responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the area in addition to being an IED, weapons and finances facilitator for the insurgency. No civilian, Afghan security forces or coalition casualties were sustained during the operation.
Provincial Response Company Zabul, enabled by coalition forces, killed several enemy fighters and seized a large cache of explosives material in Qalat district, Zabul province after it was attacked while attempting to disrupt insurgent facilitation routes between Kandahar and Zabul, Wednesday. Following the engagement, the Afghan and coalition force discovered 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of ammonium nitrate, 100 kilograms of ammonium nitrate mixed with aluminum powder, several hand grenades and weapons, and several hundred rounds of ammunition. The force also found five motorcycles it believes were intended for use in suicide-vehicle IED attacks. All seized materials were destroyed at the location.
An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Now Zad district, Helmand province, today. The leader was believed to be coordinating and conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Prior to his arrest, the Taliban leader was suspected of working toward acquiring weapons and ammunition while planning an attack on an Afghan village. The security force also detained a number of insurgents and seized a firearm along with weapon paraphernalia during the operation.
Afghan and coalition forces conducted a security operation in search of a Taliban leader, resulting in the death of a number of insurgents, in Zhari district, Kandahar province, Thursday. During the operation, the security force observed the individuals engaged in insurgent activity. After taking all measures to ensure no civilians were in the area, the security force engaged the insurgents, killing them. The Taliban leader is suspected of directing attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces, facilitating the movement of weapons throughout the region, and reporting directly to senior Taliban leaders in the district.
East
Provincial Response Company Logar, advised by coalition forces, seized a significant cache of IED-making materials and weapons during an operation in Baraki Barak district, Logar province Wednesday. The find included more than a dozen jugs of home-made explosives, 20 antipersonnel mines, 12 rocket propelled grenades and a mortar tube. All materials were destroyed at the site. No Afghan or coalition service members or civilians were harmed as a result of this operation.
Afghan and coalition forces killed a number of suicide bombers and detained several suspected insurgents during a security operation in Jaghatu district, Wardak province, today. As the security force approached the suicide bombers’, several armed insurgents maneuvered toward the Afghan and coalition troops. After positively identifying the lethal threat, the security force engaged the armed insurgents. During the exchange, homemade explosives within the compound detonated, killing the suicide attack planners inside. The suicide bombers were believed to be in the advanced stages of preparing for an attack against Afghan and coalition forces. As a result of the operation, the security force also seized several suicide vests, multiple firearms, grenades, containers of homemade explosives, blasting caps, in addition to weapon accessories. No civilians were harmed during the operation.
Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents during an operation in Muhammad Aghah district, Logar province, today. After positively identifying the insurgents burying an improvised explosive device and ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged with a precision airstrike, killing the insurgents. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.
Source: isaf.nato.int
