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SBS swoop to kill Taliban chief (Brits in Afghanistan)
The Sun (UK) ^ | Tom Newton Dunn

Posted on 02/22/2008 2:30:49 PM PST by uksupport1

A TALIBAN chief behind suicide attacks on British troops has been shot dead in a daring operation by elite forces in Afghanistan.

The Special Boat Service ambushed Mullah Abdul Matin as he crossed a desert on a motorbike.

They were dropped into his path by helicopter after a tip-off on his whereabouts. Matin spotted them and opened fire with an AK47 rifle but he was cut down in a hail of bullets.

Two henchmen with him – one his key lieutenant Mullah Karim Agha – were also killed in the firefight.

Matin, who was in his 40s, was killed on Monday near Gereshk in war-torn Helmand province.

Troops recovered night vision goggles, grenades and a detonator.

Matin, a deputy of Taliban chief Mullah Omar, had been one of the Coalition’s top targets for several months.

He had planned several suicide bomb attacks on British convoys, killing two British servicemen and wounding a dozen in the last 18 months.

His fanatics are thought to have murdered Royal Marine Gary Wright, 22, from 45 Commando in October 2006, and Sgt Dave Wilkinson, 33, from 19 Regiment Royal Artillery, last July.

He is also thought to be behind the murders of dozens of Afghan civilians.

British Forces spokesman in Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Millar, said: “Mullah Matin’s been a priority target for some time. He commanded fighters and reported directly to the highest Taliban levels of command.

“He’s responsible for the kidnapping of local nationals, had links with the narcotics trade and had provided security to the traffickers.”

NATO spokesman Brigadier General Carlos Branco said the Taliban had suffered “another severe setback”.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; british
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1 posted on 02/22/2008 2:30:50 PM PST by uksupport1
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To: uksupport1

good news...


2 posted on 02/22/2008 2:34:37 PM PST by firewalk
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To: uksupport1

next


3 posted on 02/22/2008 2:38:30 PM PST by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: uksupport1; dighton; Billthedrill; Ezekial
Troops recovered night vision goggles, grenades and a detonator.

I'm emailing Obama's speechwriters.

4 posted on 02/22/2008 2:39:32 PM PST by aculeus
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To: uksupport1
“He’s responsible for the kidnapping of local nationals, had links with the narcotics trade and had provided security to the traffickers.”

A devout Muslim, no doubt...

5 posted on 02/22/2008 2:41:51 PM PST by Onelifetogive (This is an Obama-nation!)
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To: Cap Huff; AdmSmith; nuconvert; Straight Vermonter; Southack

Click the link his death photo is in the article.


6 posted on 02/22/2008 2:47:14 PM PST by Dog
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To: uksupport1; SandRat

Brits snuffing jihadis BUMP


7 posted on 02/22/2008 2:47:43 PM PST by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: uksupport1
They were dropped into his path by helicopter after a tip-off on his whereabouts. Matin spotted them and opened fire with an AK47 rifle but he was cut down in a hail of bullets.

Vey slick!!

8 posted on 02/22/2008 2:57:27 PM PST by SuziQ
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To: uksupport1

Nice work. Hugely appreciated.


9 posted on 02/22/2008 2:59:47 PM PST by Bahbah
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To: uksupport1

Virgins are working overtime, he, he....


10 posted on 02/22/2008 3:34:41 PM PST by Leo Carpathian (ffffFReeeePeee!)
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To: uksupport1
Two henchmen with him...

Wow, a mullah and his two henchmen... Wonder how many points that is worth... Great shooting, guys, keep up the good work...

11 posted on 02/22/2008 3:35:49 PM PST by Zeppo (Every mighty mild... seventies child... Beats me (Metric - Combat Baby))
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To: uksupport1

Good find UKS. We get very little info on what our special operations are up to in Afghanistan, but on this occasion it was felt that a story like this in the paper would do alot for morale back home.


12 posted on 02/22/2008 3:40:33 PM PST by Rikstir
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To: Dog

Good intel; good kill.


13 posted on 02/22/2008 3:54:06 PM PST by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
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To: Southack

......Good intel; good kill....

The unstated message...... we’re watching you!!


14 posted on 02/22/2008 3:58:28 PM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Never say never (there'll be a VP you'll like))
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To: uksupport1

Good on ‘em...

God Bless.


15 posted on 02/22/2008 3:58:54 PM PST by PubliusMM (RKBA; a matter of fact, not opinion)
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To: uksupport1

Nice Shot!

Pray for W and Our British Allies


16 posted on 02/22/2008 4:00:05 PM PST by bray (Go InSain)
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To: uksupport1

Awesome!

God bless the Brits.

One question; why are special “boat” services dropping into the desert??


17 posted on 02/22/2008 4:28:19 PM PST by incredulous joe (Waterboarding Advocate. Proud Nativist!)
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To: uksupport1

Awesome!

God bless the Brits.

One question; why are special “boat” services dropping into the desert??


18 posted on 02/22/2008 4:28:21 PM PST by incredulous joe (Waterboarding Advocate. Proud Nativist!)
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To: uksupport1

Like the germans would get off their lazy asses and contribute.


19 posted on 02/22/2008 4:33:34 PM PST by BurbankKarl
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To: incredulous joe; aculeus; Billthedrill; AnAmericanMother
One question; why are special “boat” services dropping into the desert??

Cuz they shipped Mullah Abdul Matin to the next world?

;-)

20 posted on 02/22/2008 8:54:13 PM PST by dighton
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