IJC Operational Update, July 4

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

07.04.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

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KABUL- An Afghan-international security force detained a number of suspected insurgents in Helmand province last night while pursuing a Taliban commander responsible for several improvised explosive device attacks, ambushes and kidnapping operations throughout the Aynak area of the province.

As the combined security force approached a compound outside Lashkar Gah, several individuals fled. The security force caught and detained several of them.

Afghan and coalition forces are concentrating their efforts on the Taliban strongholds in southern Afghanistan. Since the beginning of May, security forces have conducted successful clearing operations, capturing a large number of suspected insurgents, including several Taliban leaders within Helmand province.

Thursday Afghan and coalition security forces captured the Taliban district chief of Now Zad, and killed a large number of insurgents during an operation in the remote Baghran district in
northern Helmand province.

A separate Afghan and international security force detained several suspected insurgents while pursuing a Haqqani weapons facilitator in Khost province last night.

The combined security force went to a compound east of Bazar, Khost district, to search the area. As the security force approached the compound, two individuals attempted to escape but the security force caught them. They and another suspected insurgent were detained.
No shots were fired and women and children present were protected by the combined security force.

The Haqqani Network is attempting to establish strongholds within the Khost-Gardez pass, which runs through the Hindu Kush Mountains of Paktiya and Khost provinces. It is a favored place for insurgent groups to move supplies and foreign fighters into Afghanistan from Pakistan.

Another Afghan-international security force killed an insurgent in Kunduz province last night while pursuing a Taliban commander.

The combined security force went to a compound east of Gerdan in Chahar Darah district, and was immediately engaged by an individual in an adjacent building. The security force returned fire, killing the insurgent.

Afghan forces then used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to peacefully exit the compound and then secured the area.

The combined force also discovered a cache of rocket propelled grenades, automatic weapons, an IED ready for use, and expended RPGs and empty mortar rounds inside a nearby building in the vicinity of a local mosque. To prevent the IED from being used to harm civilians and coalition forces, the security force performed a controlled detonation to destroy the weapons cache, which also destroyed the building. The mosque was not damaged.


A separate Afghan-international security force detained a suspected insurgent in Zabul province yesterday while pursuing a Taliban commander and foreign-fighter facilitator responsible for moving IED material and foreign fighters into Shah Joy district from Pakistan.

The combined security force captured the suspected insurgent while he was travelling on a motorcycle in Shah Joy district. No shots were fired.

Afghan and international security forces have conducted a number of operations within Zabul province recently and captured or killed a large number of insurgents, including several Taliban leaders.

"International forces, side by side with our Afghan partners, are helping to bring to justice insurgents who use fear and intimidation to threaten the people of Afghanistan," said Col. William Maxwell, ISAF Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director.

"We're doing this so the Afghan people can move forward with rebuilding their institutions, rebuilding their country," Maxwell added.