An Afghan-international security force captured a Taliban improvised explosive device expert and several other militants in Kandahar province this morning.

The security force searched a compound just west of Kandahar City after intelligence determined militant activity. During the search the security force captured the IED expert heavily involved in IED manufacturing, emplacements and attacks throughout the Kandahar area. Several other militants were also captured.

This capture may degrade the Taliban’s IED capabilities in the Kandahar area. Because of his links to other militant networks coalition forces believe this IED expert could also provide information on other Taliban leaders.

Also in Kandahar this morning, a joint force searched a compound in the town of Bazar-e Pannivai, in the Kandahar district, after intelligence information indicated militant activity. During the search the joint force detained several suspected militants for further questioning.

In the Zharay district of Kandahar this morning, an Afghan-international security patrol found a booby-trapped cache containing two suicide vests, six grenades and eight AK-47′s. The cache will be destroyed.

In Wardak last night, an Afghan-international security force searched a compound west of Yusof Kheyl, in the Sayed Abad district, after intelligence information indicated militant activity. During the search the security force captured a Haqqani heavy weapons facilitator, responsible for the sale and distribution of weapons ranging from heavy machine guns to sniper rifles. The Haqqani have used indiscriminate bombings, small-arms attacks, murder, kidnappings, and intimidation to achieve their aims.

Another militant was also captured during the search.

The combined force also found several automatic rifles and Taliban propaganda. This capture is likely to hinder weapons procurement by militant networks in the area.

No shots were fired and no one was injured during any of these operations.

DVIDS

An Afghan-international security force killed a group of enemy militants and detained two suspected militants today in eastern Paktika province while pursuing a Haqqani commander with ties to the local Haqqani leadership and who was responsible for several attacks in the area.

The joint task force targeted the buildings in the hills of Sarobi district after intelligence indicated militant activity.

During the assault on one building, the joint force received enemy fire and returned fire. Following no response from calls to exit the building, the joint force cleared the building. During the operation, a group of militants was killed in and outside the building.

A security element of the joint force searched the enemy positions and recovered blasting caps, IED-making materials, a number of RPGs, AK-47 rifles, chest racks and communications equipment.

Afghan-International Security Force Interdicts Militant in Wardak

A separate Afghan-international security force killed an enemy militant in Wardak province today while pursuing a Taliban commander and facilitator responsible for planning and executing several attacks in the area.

The joint security force targeted compounds near the village of Tokarak in Nerkh district after intelligence indicated militant activity.

During the operation, the joint force received hostile fire and returned fire, killing one enemy militant. A security element of the joint force searched the enemy position and recovered an AK-47 rifle, multiple hand grenades, and AK-47 magazines. The joint force searched the compounds without further incident.

Afghan-International Security Forces Detain Militants in Kandahar and Kunduz

In an operation in Kandahar province today, an Afghan-international security force detained more than a dozen suspected militants while pursuing a Taliban commander operating in the area who is linked to the local Taliban shadow governor.

The joint security force targeted compounds in a remote stretch of the Daman district after intelligence indicated militant activity. Security elements from the joint force pursued individuals seen departing from one of the compounds and detained several suspected militants.

The joint force searched the compounds without incident, recovered one artillery round and detained the other suspected militants. The artillery round was destroyed at a safe distance from the compounds.

No shots were fired, and no one was injured.

In a separate operation, an Afghan-international security force detained two suspected militants in Kunduz province while pursuing a deputy to an area Taliban shadow governor. The joint security force targeted a compound near the village of Chem Tappeh in Kunduz district after intelligence indicated militant activity. The joint force searched the compound without incident.

No civilians were harmed during the operations in Paktika, Wardak, Kunduz or Kandahar provinces.

ISAF Casualties
No ISAF service members were killed during the past 24 hours.

ISAF

ISAF reports 1 and 2

In Helmand province a joint security force detained a suspected militant commander and several suspected militants linked to the narcotics industry in Nahri Sarraj district, during an Oct. 11 operation.

Haji Khan Mohammed is considered a senior power broker in the district, and it is believed that his drug operations provided financial support to enemy fighters throughout southern Afghanistan.

During the operation joint security forces received machine gun fire from militants shooting from multiple compounds. The forces moved the fighting away from the compounds and detained the militants.

The joint force also found a weapons cache consisting of 40 rocket propelled grenades, two ammunition vests, several thousand machine gun rounds, several five-gallon jugs used in constructing homemade explosives for roadside bombs, three AK-47s and 20 mortar rounds. The cache was destroyed on site by controlled detonation. No joint force members were injured during the operation.

A joint security force killed several militants Oct. 11, during an operation in Qalat district, Zabul province in an effort to disrupt a Taliban element believed responsible for several attacks in the region.

During the operation the joint force received hostile fire and returned fire, killing several militants.

Also during the search the joint force found an RPG, an AK-47 rifle with ammunition rounds, a pistol, a grenade, an ammunition belt and communications gear. All items were destroyed in place.

In an operation conducted in Kandahar province today, a joint security force detained one suspected militant in a compound known to be used by a Taliban facilitator and his element responsible for supplying improvised explosive devices, weapons and ammunition to other militant groups in the region.

The search in a compound northwest of Kandahar City was conducted without incident. No Afghan civilians were harmed during these operations.

Today (October 12 2009) a joint security force killed more than a dozen militants and detained a suspected militant after searching a mountainside compound in Kunar province known to be used by an al-Qaida commander and his element believed responsible for the facilitation of foreign fighters and numerous attacks in Pech Valley.

During the search of the compound located near Tantil village, northeast of Jalalabad, the force received hostile enemy fire on two occasions and returned fire, killing the enemy militants. The joint force also found a number of rocket propelled grenades, machine guns, multiple AK-47 rifles and other grenades. All items were destroyed in place.

In another operation in Ziruk district, Paktika province a joint security force detained several suspected militants today after searching a compound known to be used by a Haqqani facilitator and his element believed to be responsible for financing and supplying weapons to other militants in the region.

The joint force also found several grenades and a cache of small arms ammunition. All items were destroyed on site.

In a third operation that marked one of the largest drug and weapons discoveries this year, a joint force found about 100 kilograms of heroin, 1,800 kilograms of opium, nearly 50 metric tons of opium seeds along with a morphine processing lab during a search in Kajaki district, Helmand province, Oct. 6.

The joint force killed multiple enemy fighters and detained several suspected militants.

The joint force, assisted by the Afghanistan Narcotics Interdiction Unit, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, coordinated and conducted the search to disrupt Anti-Afghan forces and to set conditions for effective future security operations in central Helmand province.

The force also found a weapons cache that included: 35 RPGs, five hand grenades, one 82mm recoilless rifle, 600 links of 7.62mm ammunition, four sniper rifles, one RPG launcher, 15 blocks of C-4 explosives, two blocks of Semtex plastic explosives, 50 detonation cords, two landmines, one passive infrared initiator, 350 rounds of various ammunition and 35 tons of ammonium nitrate—a chemical used to make roadside bombs.

All drugs were destroyed on site, and weapons were either positioned for safe disposal or destroyed on location.

No Afghan civilians were harmed during these operations.

Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces killed 17 armed militants and detained ten suspected militants during operations to further decimate the Haqqani and Hizb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) terrorist networks in Paktia and Kabul provinces, Saturday [November 29 2008].

In Zadran District, which is located 135 kilometers south of Kabul, Afghan and Coalition forces killed one armed militant and detained ten suspected militants, including the targeted Haqqani foreign fighter facilitator, during a combined operation in Paktia province. The targeted Haqqani militant is assessed to coordinate and assist with the movement of Islamic Jihadist Union (IJU) and other foreign fighters into Afghanistan. He is also believed to be direct contact with senior Haqqani leaders in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

During the search of the compounds the combined force encountered one militant, armed with a grenade, attempting to hide behind women and children. The force engaged the militant with small-arms fire, killing him while protecting the women and children. Coalition forces estimate that they safeguarded 16 women and 31 children.

Coalition forces conducted a second operation in Sorobi District, located 50 kilometers east of Kabul province, targeting one of the HIG terrorist network’s senior commanders. The commander is known to be heavily involved in the kidnapping of Afghan officials and innocent civilians, demanding ransoms to finance illegal activities. Intelligence also suggests he directs and facilitates roadside bomb attacks throughout eastern Afghanistan which indiscriminately kill and injure innocent Afghans and Coalition forces.

“ANSF and Coalition members continue to search for those individuals that do not have the best interest of the people of Afghan at heart,” said Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, Chief spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Defense. “This is a significant impact on the Haqqani and Hizb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) network to provide security for the Afghan people.”

As Coalition forces approached the targeted buildings, 16 armed militants exited the buildings and began maneuvering on the force. The militants engaged the force with small-arms fire. The force responded with small-arms fire and precision munitions, and killed the militants.

CJTF-101

Coalition forces killed nineteen armed militants and detained three suspected militants during multiple operations to disrupt the Haqqani, Taliban and al-Qaeda improvised explosive device and foreign fighter networks in eastern Afghanistan, Friday [October 31 2008].

In Dara Noor District, Coalition forces targeted a known al-Qaeda leader, believed to facilitate the movement of foreign fighters and weapons into Konar province. The AQ leader is also believed to be in contact with other militants in the region, coordinating attacks against Coalition forces and innocent civilians.

As the force began a search of the targeted compound they were immediately engaged by two armed militants inside the first building. The force responded with small-arms fire, killing both armed militants. Following the engagement, the force moved to a second building in the compound. As the force approached the building multiple armed militants exited the building, attempting to maneuver on the force and engaging them with small-arms fire. Coalition forces returned fire, killing five armed militants, one of whom was an armed female. One suspected militant was detained during the operation.

A second operation, in Nadar Shahkot (Nader Shah Kowt) District, targeted a militant known to have ties to both the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist networks and to coordinate and direct IED attacks in the region. As the force approached the targeted militant, located in a vehicle, the two militants inside reached for AK-47s. Faced with the hostile intent, the force engaged both small-arms fire, killing them. Coalition forces conducted a search of the vehicle, finding explosives. Coalition forces destroyed the vehicle due to the threat it presented to both the force and local civilians.

Also in Nader Shah Kowt, Coalition forces killed ten armed militants and detained two suspected militants during an operation directed at a known Haqqani IED and suicide bomber facilitator. As the force attempted to search the compound they were engaged by several groups of armed militants, wielding AK-47s and rocket propelled grenades. Coalition forces responded with small-arms fire, killing six, including the targeted Haqqani militant. A search of the compound revealed multiple AK-47s, and RPG, five RPG rounds, a pistol and other military style equipment.

As the force attempted to leave the compound they received heavy fire from militants inside a building. Realizing the threat, Coalition forces engaged the militants with precision, close-air support to neutralize the threat and protecting the force.

CJTF-101