Local Taliban leader among insurgents killed in Afghanistan

[News_Editor]

Local Taliban leader among insurgents killed in Afghanistan

2010-10-25 16:40:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- A local Taliban leader was among several insurgents killed during coalition operations throughout Afghanistan on late Sunday, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

ISAF said Mustafa, a local Taliban leader, was killed during an operation in eastern Afghanistan on late Sunday. He is alleged to have commanded a cell of fighters in facilitating and emplacing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along Afghan public roads.

According to the alliance, intelligence reports led an Afghan and coalition security force to a compound southwest of Maspikay in the Omnah district of Paktika province. When they approached the compound, Mustafa reportedly emerged from the building, armed with an AK-47, and threatened the security force.

"The security force reacted by shooting and killing him," an ISAF spokesperson said. "After the area was secure, 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 at the scene, ISAF said, the joint force detained two suspected insurgents and recovered an automatic weapon, a rifle, and a grenade along with multiple magazines. At this point, armed insurgents engaged the security force from a ridgeline near the compound. Two of them were killed when the soldiers returned fire.

In another operation on late Sunday, in Zabul province, coalition forces captured a Taliban IED facilitator who is alleged to have planned, prepared and executed undiscriminated IED attacks along the busy Highway One, also known as Ring Road. His identity was not released.

Based on intelligence tips, ISAF said, the security force targeted a series of tents in the remote Shah Joy district of Zabul province to search for the individual. After using a loudspeaker to call on all occupants to peacefully exit the tents, the force detained the alleged Taliban IED facilitator and one of his associates.

During the same operation, in which no casualties were reported, the force also discovered IED material that included a 155mm round. All weapons were destroyed at the scene, before the forces left the scene.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday, two insurgents were killed while coalition forces were searching for a senior Taliban leader for the Qal'ah-ye Now, Murghab and Muqor districts of Badghis province, located in western Afghanistan.

ISAF said that intelligence information led the security force to a remote compound in Morghab district to search for the targeted individual. They used loudspeakers to call on all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully, after which they began a clearing operation.

"During the clearance, the security force killed two armed individuals when they threatened the force," ISAF said, adding that two other suspected insurgents were taken into custody. Multiple automatic weapons were also found.

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