Posted on 01/20/2011 3:04:58 PM PST by SandRat
KABUL, Afghanistan (Jan. 19) – Afghan and coalition forces targeted a Taliban leader detaining several suspected insurgents and killing one armed insurgent during an operation yesterday in Paktiya province.
In addition to being the Taliban Gardez district leader, he is also involved in improvised explosive device attacks against coalition forces within the province. He maintains ties with several other Taliban leaders. Recent reporting indicates he is planning to transfer weapons from a cache for an upcoming attack.
Intelligence reports led the security force to the targeted compound in the district. As the security force approached the compound they observed two armed insurgents running into a mosque.
At the mosque, Afghan forces called for all occupants to exit peacefully. One armed insurgent exited the mosque peacefully and was detained. The second armed insurgent fired at the security force. The security force attempted, once again, to call out the armed insurgent and he did not comply. After several attempts, the security force escalated their call out procedures before the Afghan security force entered the mosque resulting in one armed insurgent being killed. The security force recovered an AK-47, sniper rifle and ammunition at the scene.
Taliban insurgents in Gardez district have continually used mosques for hideouts. Over the past two months security forces have detained three targeted individuals along with associates hiding in Gardez area mosques. Afghan and coalition forces took every precaution to respect the mosque and all its contents.
The security force continued clearing the targeted compound detaining several additional suspected insurgents. Initial questioning at the scene revealed the men’s involvement in insurgent activities.
In Kandahar province, Afghan and coalition forces targeted a Taliban leader who is connected to the Dec. 17 indirect fire attack on Forward Operating Base Wilson detaining one suspected insurgent during a security operation.
The security force targeted the Taliban leader who operates within Zharay district. He is responsible for movement of supplies, facilitation of suicide materials and is associated with Taliban leadership in the province. He also received numerous suicide vest improvised explosive devices from a fellow Taliban leader to be used in future attacks against Afghan National Security Force and coalition forces during the winter months according to recent reporting.
Security forces followed leads to the target location in the district, where Afghan and coalition forces conducted a search after securing the compound. One suspected insurgent was detained after initial questioning at the scene.
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