Liberalguy

ANSF, ISAF strike insurgent leaders, arrest IED facilitators

KABUL, Afghanistan — During the past seven days, Afghan National Security Forces and ISAF successfully engaged key members of the insurgency and taken into custody two Improvised Explosive Device (IED) facilitators.

ANSF and ISAF carried out a successful strike against several key insurgent leaders in the Khakrez district of Kandahar province July 9.

Based on information gathered by the Afghan National Directorate of Security, ANSF and ISAF learned that several key insurgent commanders were meeting to regroup their forces and plan further attacks against the Arghandab district and Kandahar city. Afghan forces established observation of the area and called in an air strike using ISAF aircraft.

It is believed that terrorist Mullah Mahmoud was killed in the strike. Mahmoud is reported to have commanded more than 250 Taliban fighters and was responsible for many insurgent operations in Kandahar province.

“That the Taliban would try to organize to attack Arghandab again shows how unwise their leaders are,” said Assadullah Khalid, the Governor of Kandahar province. “Those people who have sons or brothers who have been fooled into working for the Taliban should call them to come home now and return to a peaceful life.”

ANSF arrested two insurgent IED facilitators July 13 in the Malajat area of District 6 in Kandahar city. Commandos from the Afghan National Army, supported by ISAF air and ground assets, stormed the compounds of the two insurgent IED facilitators. Both individuals surrendered without incident.

No civilians were injured and no local infrastructure was damaged during these security operations.

These arrests and the recent strike against insurgent key leaders are two examples of how ANSF and ISAF are making progress in the fight against the insurgency.

“Let there be no doubt: Our troops have the initiative in Kandahar province,” said Brigadier General Denis Thompson, Commander of Task Force Kandahar. “Afghan troops and ISAF soldiers are routinely defeating insurgents in our area of operations and insurgents have suffered heavy losses across the region, especially within their tactical and operational level leadership.”