Combined Force Arrests Taliban Leader in Helmand Province

 Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2012 – A combined coalition and Afghan security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province today, military officials reported.
The leader was a weapons facilitator directly involved in coordinating attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces, officials said. He also directed assassinations, coordinated the shipment and distribution of bomb-making materials and weapons, and provided intelligence to Taliban senior leadership operating in the province.

The security force also detained three suspected insurgents and seized an Afghan army uniform.
In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined force in Kandahar province’s Arghandab district arrested a Taliban facilitator who organized high-profile attacks while financing the manufacture of improvised explosive devices and vehicle-borne bombs. He also trained insurgents for IED attacks. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents.

-- In Khost province’s Terayzai district, a combined force arrested a Haqqani network leader responsible for commanding high-profile attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and the coordination and movement of IEDs and Haqqani insurgents. He conducted IED testing and was overseeing the shipment of weapons to support an impending attack. The security force also seized weapons and detained a suspected insurgent.

-- A combined force in Wardak province’s Nerkh district arrested a Taliban leader who directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and oversaw IED operations.

-- In Balkh province’s Balkh district, a combined force detained four insurgents during a search for a Haqqani network facilitator who coordinates suicide bombings. The security force also seized 10 pounds of illegal narcotics.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined force in Paktia province’s Sayyid Karam district arrested a Haqqani network leader who controlled a group that conducts IED attacks against Afghan officials and Afghan and coalition forces. He also built, stored and transported IEDs for insurgents operating in the area. The security force also detained a suspected insurgent and seized IED-making materials, grenades and a large amount of ammunition.

-- In Kandahar province’s Maiwand district, a combined force arrested a Taliban facilitator who was directly involved in IED operations and facilitated suicide-bomb attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also oversaw the transport of ammunition and IED-making materials to insurgents. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents.

-- A combined force in Helmand province’s Nahr-e Saraj district arrested a Taliban leader who procured heavy weapons, ammunition and bomb-making materials and advised Taliban insurgents. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents.

-- In Balkh province’s Chimtal district, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader responsible for planning and conducting attacks and kidnappings and for weapons procurement.

In other recent operations:

-- A combined force in Helmand province’s Nahr-e Saraj district arrested a Taliban leader Dec. 8. He distributed IED materials, detained a suspected insurgent and seized bomb-making materials.

-- In Uruzgan province’s Shahid-e-Hasas district Dec. 7, Afghan and coalition security forces seized and destroyed weapons, ammunition and three motorcycles used by insurgents. Several insurgents were killed and three suspected insurgent were detained during the operation.