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KABUL, Afghanistan – Coalition forces targeted a Taliban improvised explosive device facilitator with a precision air strike in Kandahar province yesterday, killing three armed insurgents.
The targeted Taliban facilitator is responsible for coordinating, preparing and supplying insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Zharay District. The facilitator is associated with multiple Taliban leaders including the Kandahar deputy shadow governor.
The air strike occurred as the targeted Taliban facilitator and another insurgent were identified in a remote area mid-morning in Zharay District. The insurgent was killed in the strike but the targeted facilitator ran to a nearby compound and gathered local Afghans around him, including a child, to deter further attacks.
Forces waited until the Taliban facilitator was clear of local citizens before calling in a second air strike where he was located with four armed insurgents in an open field. Two armed insurgents were killed and initial reports indicate there were no civilian casualties or damage done to buildings. The remaining suspects dispersed in retreat before forces could arrive at the scene.
On Dec. 22, security forces conducted a joint operation to detain this same Taliban facilitator for his role in the suicide vehicle-borne IED attack in Sangsar Dec. 12. Afghan and coalition forces detained several individuals and discovered 20 pounds of black-tar heroin in the previous operation.
Additional reporting indicates that he also led a group of Taliban insurgents attacking an Afghan and coalition patrol on Dec. 30. No Afghan or coalition casualties resulted from the attack.
The International Security Assistance Force is still gathering information to confirm if the Taliban facilitator was the one of the insurgents killed in the strike.
| Date Taken: | 01.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.01.2011 00:54 |
| Story ID: | 62834 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 283 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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