Local Taliban leaders killed, detained after coalition operations in Afghanistan

[News_Editor]

Local Taliban leaders killed, detained after coalition operations in Afghanistan

2010-11-22 13:10:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- Several suspected Taliban leaders were killed or detained after three separate operations in Afghanistan during the weekend, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed on Monday.

In one operation in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, ISAF said an active Taliban leader was arrested after coalition forces carried out an air strike in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province. Three other suspected insurgents sustained injuries.

The alliance did not identify the suspected Taliban leader but alleged he is a weapons and improvised explosive device (IED) expert and is believed to be responsible for indiscriminate IED and small arms fire attacks on coalition forces in the district.

"A follow-on ground force discovered (three) additional wounded insurgents at the scene," ISAF said. "The security force provided immediate medical attention before detaining them along with one other insurgent. The security force later determined the targeted individual was among the detained."

In southwest Afghanistan, also on Saturday, coalition forces killed a 'key' Taliban leader who was the district shadow governor of Bakwah district in Farah province.

ISAF identified the Taliban leader as Mullah Hafiz Janan who, besides being a district shadow governor, was also involved in foreign-fighter facilitation and networking. He allegedly maintained ties with other senior Taliban leaders and supplied weapons and training to foreign fighters.

The alliance said its forces had followed Janan and one of his associates as they traveled in the shadow governor's known area of operations. "The individuals were shot and killed after brandishing weapons and threatening the security force,"ISAF said, while adding that several additional suspected insurgents were arrested hours later at a compound in the same region.

Additionally, on late Sunday, coalition forces killed a local Taliban leader identified as Fared Gul during an operation in the Zurmat district of Paktiya province. ISAF said the insurgent was involved in the facilitation and emplacement of IEDs on public roads and also coordinated and conducted IED ambushes on coalition force convoys and aircraft.

"Based on intelligence tips, the security force targeted a compound in Zurmat district to search for the individual," the alliance said. "As they approached, the security force shot and killed two armed insurgents when they threatened the force. After the shooting ceased, the security force positively identified Fared Gul among the dead."

Several additional suspected insurgents were detained when troops searched the targeted compound. Multiple weapons were also found, which were destroyed at the scene by coalition forces.

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