Combined Force Detains Taliban Weapons Supplier

WASHINGTON, July 5, 2012 — An Afghan and coali­tion secu­ri­ty force detained a Tal­iban weapons sup­pli­er in the Chim­tal dis­trict of Afghanistan’s Balkh province today, mil­i­tary offi­cials report­ed.

The weapons sup­pli­er pro­vid­ed firearms, explo­sives and impro­vised explo­sive devices to Tal­iban insur­gents through­out the region, offi­cials said. At the time of his arrest, he was in the process of acquir­ing IEDs for upcom­ing attacks. 

The secu­ri­ty force also detained anoth­er sus­pect­ed insur­gent dur­ing the oper­a­tion, offi­cials said. 

Also today, offi­cials con­firmed that Tal­iban leader Nek Moham­mad was killed July 1 in the Sar‑e Pul dis­trict of Sar‑e Pul province. Moham­mad had served as a senior Tal­iban leader in the region and direct­ed attacks against Afghan and coali­tion forces. 

Offi­cials also con­firmed today that a Tal­iban leader known as Hamza was killed July 2 in the Ghazni dis­trict of Ghazni province. Hamza had man­aged sev­er­al Tal­iban insur­gents and coor­di­nat­ed attacks with oth­er Tal­iban lead­ers through­out the region. 

In oper­a­tions around Afghanistan today: 

— A com­bined force in the Pan­jwai dis­trict of Kan­da­har province appre­hend­ed a Tal­iban leader and detained two oth­er insur­gents. The detained Tal­iban leader led an attack cell and coor­di­nat­ed high-pro­file attacks. At the time of his arrest, he was attempt­ing to acquire sui­cide vests and more than 110 pounds of explosives. 

— A com­bined force detained a Tal­iban leader and sev­er­al oth­er sus­pects in the Pul‑e Alam dis­trict of Log­ar province. The appre­hend­ed Tal­iban leader was respon­si­ble for attacks against coali­tion secu­ri­ty patrols through­out the region and the killing of mul­ti­ple Afghan sol­diers in May. 

In oper­a­tions yesterday: 

— A com­bined force seized more than 40 pounds of opi­um dur­ing a search for a Tal­iban leader in Kandahar’s Pan­jwai district. 

— A com­bined force dis­cov­ered and cleared two IEDs, one in Ghazni province’s Ab Band Dis­trict and anoth­er in the province’s Qarah Bagh district. 

— A com­bined force killed two insur­gents and detained three oth­ers in Ghazni province’s Dehyak district. 

— A com­bined force killed an insur­gent in Khost province’s Qalan­dar dis­trict, and anoth­er com­bined force found and cleared an IED in the province’s Khost district. 

— Com­bined forces found and cleared two IEDs in Pak­ti­ka province’s Sar Rowzah dis­trict and anoth­er in the province’s Wazah Kwah district. 

— A com­bined force killed five insur­gents and detained a sus­pect in Pak­tia province’s Lajah Ahmad­khel district. 

Source:
Com­piled from Inter­na­tion­al Secu­ri­ty Assis­tance Force Joint Com­mand News Releases