KABUL, Afghanistan (Oct. 17) - Afghan and coalition forces detained numerous suspected insurgents in three overnight operations in northern and eastern Afghanistan aimed at capturing Taliban and Haqqani Network leadership.
In Khost province, an Afghan and coalition security force targeted a Haqqani Network facilitator responsible for coordinating the movement of weapons throughout Sabari district.
Based on intelligence tips, the security force targeted a compound in Sabari district to search for the targeted individual. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully, and then the joint security force cleared and secured the compound. After initial questioning of the residents at the scene, the security force detained several suspected insurgents.
A separate security force targeted a Taliban leader who commands Taliban units operating in Ghazni province and maintains close ties with senior Taliban leadership in Pakistan, detaining suspected insurgents during an overnight operation in Ghazni.
Based on intelligence tips, the security force targeted a compound north of the village of Gahari Sofla in Andar district to search for the targeted individual. After an Afghan-led callout, the joint security force cleared and secured the compound. The security force detained the suspected insurgents after initial questioning of the residents at the scene.
In northern Badghis province, a combined force detained two suspected insurgents during an operation targeting the Taliban shadow governor for the province yesterday. He became the new shadow governor for province earlier this month, replacing Mullah Ismail who was killed in a joint operation Oct 6.
The targeted individual is responsible for improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Badghis province and was also heavily involved with the disappearance of U.S. soldiers last November.
The security force did not fire their weapons during any of the operations and they protected the women and children for the duration of the searches.
