RECENT ACTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN

Photo Credit:  U.S. Department of Defense  
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Afghan-led Security Force Captures Insurgent Facilitator
Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2012 - An Afghan-led, coalition-supported security force detained an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator and several other insurgents during an operation in the Argo district of Afghanistan's Badakhshan province today, military officials reported.

The facilitator was responsible for acquiring and transporting explosive materials and planning improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district, officials said.

In other operations today:
-- In the Shorabak district of Kandahar province, coalition forces discovered an IED cache containing 5,000 pounds of homemade explosives and several main charges. All of the materials were destroyed.

-- A combined force detained a Haqqani leader and called in an airstrike that killed several insurgents in the Jaji district of Paktiya province. The Haqqani leader coordinated roadside bombings and indirect-fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also provided weapons, including IEDs, to insurgents.

-- A combined force detained a Taliban facilitator and one other insurgent in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province. The facilitator supplied weapons, ammunition and equipment to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition troops.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban leader in the Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani district of Ghazni province. The sought-after insurgent leader plans and conducts roadside bombings against Afghan and coalition forces along Highway 1.

In May 23 operations:
-- A combined force discovered a cache containing 12 IEDs, two mines and seven jugs filled with homemade explosives in the Zharay district of Kandahar province.

-- A combined force killed six insurgents during a firefight in the Pul-E Alam district of Logar province. Some small arms and a radio device were recovered from the insurgents.

-- A combined force detained eight insurgents in the Terezayi district of Khowst province.

-- A combined force detained four insurgents in the Sabari district of Khowst province after finding three IEDs and four loaded AK-47 rifles in their vehicle.

-- A combined force called in an airstrike that killed two insurgents, including Jamil Ur Rahman, a senior insurgent leader, during an operation in the Waygal district of Nuristan province. Rahman had provided leadership and coordinated insurgent activities across eastern Afghanistan.

-- A combined force discovered a weapons cache containing 50 pounds of homemade explosives, five 120 mm mortar rounds and some small-arms ammunition in the Mizan district of Zabul province.

-- In the Shindand district of Herat province, a combined force discovered a weapons cache containing seven cluster bombs,
12 82 mm mortar rounds, one 107 mm rocket and 10 rocket engine boosters. The cache was destroyed.

In May 21 operations:
-- In the Kajaki district of Helmand province, a combined force killed several insurgents and destroyed 3,102 pounds of poppy seed, 484 pounds of wet opium, 22 pounds of ammonium nitrate and drug production equipment.

MORE DRUGS INTERCEPTED IN AFGHANISTAN

Photo:  Marijuana Field.  Credit:  Wikimedia. 

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Combined Afghan, Coalition Force Detains Taliban Facilitator

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2012 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban facilitator in the Zharay district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province today, military officials reported.

The facilitator supplied insurgents in the district with weapons, ammunition and equipment for attacks against Afghan and coalition troops and coordinated suicide bombings and indirect-fire attacks against Afghan police compounds and checkpoints throughout Zharay, officials said.

The security force also detained two other insurgents and found 11 pounds of illegal narcotics.

In Kandahar's Panjwai district yesterday, a combined security force found and destroyed about 1,500 pounds of hashish.

An Afghan-led security force supported by coalition troops captured a senior Taliban leader and two other insurgents in Kandahar's Dand district May 19. The leader, who operates in Helmand province's Lashkar Gah district, tried to control the local population through murder and intimidation and is suspected in coordinating the assassination of a government official in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

In May 18 operations:

-- A combined security force detained several insurgents, seized and destroyed explosives and weapons and destroyed an opium field in Baghlan province's Baghlan-e-Jidid district.

-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported security force detained several insurgents while searching for a senior Taliban leader in Helmand's Nad-e Ali district. The leader, an explosives expert, directs attacks in the Nad-e Ali and Lashkar Gah districts and coordinates with other Taliban leaders to supply weapons, ammunition, equipment and explosives to subordinates.

-- In Kandahar's Panjwai district, a combined security force found and destroyed about 300 pounds of hashish, and a combined security force in Kandahar's Zharay district found and destroyed 220 pounds of hashish.In other news, a combined security force captured a senior Taliban leader and two other insurgents in Kunduz province's Aliabad district May 16. The leader was the Taliban liaison for the Peshawar Shura, a group responsible for insurgent activity in eastern and northern Afghanistan. He also served as a facilitator for the Nuristan Taliban shadow governor and organized the transportation of weapons, foreign fighters and suicide bombers for attacks throughout the region.