NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Combined Force Kills 2 Insurgents in Firefight
Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases
WASHINGTON, May 29, 2012 - A combined force killed two insurgents and seized several AK-47 rifles and some ammunition magazines during a search for a Haqqani leader in the Gomal district of Afghanistan's Paktika province today, military officials reported.

The sought-after insurgent leader conducts roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the Sarobi district, officials said. He also coordinates the movement of insurgents and weapons throughout the region.

Two armed insurgents fired on the Afghan and coalition troops as they approached the insurgents' suspected location. The security force returned fire, killing the insurgents. A post-incident assessment confirmed that no civilians were harmed during the operation.

Also today, a combined force detained one suspect and seized a rocket-propelled grenade launcher with rockets, several grenades, sniper ammunition and illegal narcotics during a search for a Taliban leader in the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province. The Taliban leader plans and coordinates roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition troops. He also provides other insurgents with weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:
-- Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash.

-- An ISAF aircraft crashed during routine operations in eastern Afghanistan. There were no fatalities reported. The aircrew and passengers were safely transported to a nearby ISAF installation for evaluation. ISAF is investigating the cause of the crash. Initial reporting indicates that there was no enemy activity in the area.

-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained a Taliban leader and two other suspected insurgents in the Panjwa'i district of Kandahar province. The leader coordinated suicide bombings and attacks against Afghan forces and civilians and coalition troops. He also supervised the construction of suicide vests and other explosive devices and distributed them to insurgents under his control.
-- In the Baghlan-e Jadid district of Baghlan province, a combined force searched for a Taliban leader. The leader plans and conducts roadside bombings, indirect-fire attacks and other operations against Afghan and coalition troops. He also builds IEDs.

-- A combined force called in an airstrike that killed one insurgent during a search for an al-Qaida leader in the Dangam district of Kunar province. The leader facilitates the movement of weapons, equipment and insurgents. He also procures and transports supplies for insurgents throughout the province.
-- A combined force detained a Haqqani leader and two other insurgents in the Jaji district of Paktiya province. The insurgent leader planned and directed roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

In May 27 operations:
-- A combined force called in an airstrike that killed Sakhr al-Taifi, an al-Qaida leader, and one additional al-Qaida terrorist in the Watahpur district of Kunar province. Sakhr al-Taifi, also known as Musthaq and Nasim, was al-Qaida's second-highest leader in Afghanistan, responsible for commanding foreign insurgents, in addition to directing attacks against coalition and Afghan forces. He frequently traveled between Afghanistan and Pakistan, carrying out commands from senior al-Qaida leadership. He also supplied weapons and equipment to insurgents operating in eastern Afghanistan and managed the illegal transport of insurgent fighters into Afghanistan. No civilians or property were harmed in the operation.

-- A combined force killed one insurgent during a firefight in the Tagab district of Kapisa province.
-- A combined force discovered IED-making materials in the Ab Band district of Ghazni province.
-- A combined force killed 16 insurgents and detained one suspect in the Musa Khel district of Khowst province.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. The sought-after insurgent is the senior Taliban leader in the Marjeh district and manages multiple insurgent cells in the area. He directs suicide bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition troops throughout the Marjeh and Nahr-e Saraj districts. He also coordinates with Taliban leaders to move suicide bombers and explosives into Afghanistan.

-- A combined force killed several insurgents during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Aliabad district of Kunduz province. The leader is the senior Taliban insurgent in the district and controls multiple insurgent cells. He plans, coordinates, and conducts roadside bombings and other attacks against district government officials and Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In the Khwajah Sabz Posh district of Faryab province, a combined force detained several suspects while searching for an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator. The facilitator distributes funds, weapons and other equipment between IMU cells and manages the recruitment and movement of insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition troops.

-- In the Arghistan district of Kandahar province, a combined force detained several insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader. The insurgent leader conducts roadside bombings and indirect-fire attacks against Afghan and coalition troops in the Tarnek wa Jaldak district of Zabul province. He also provides weapons, ammunition and roadside bombs to insurgents.

-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban leader in the Kandahar district of Kandahar province. The leader conducts roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the Daman and Shah Wali Kot districts. He also builds IEDs and distributes them to insurgents.

-- In the Sherzad district of Nangarhar province, an Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained two suspects and seized one pistol during a search for a Taliban leader. The leader conducts roadside bombings and ambushes against Afghan and coalition forces in the Sherzad and Khugyani districts.
-- A combined force detained two suspects and seized one pistol and two grenades during a search for a Taliban leader in the Charkh district of Logar province. The leader conducts roadside bombings and ambushes against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district.

In May 26 operations:
-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained one suspect and confiscated 10 rocket-propelled grenades, eight fuel cells, 50 machine gun rounds and a rifle in the Tarin Kot district of Uruzgan province.
-- A combined force killed two insurgents and detained two suspects during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province. The sought-after insurgent leader controls several Taliban commanders and coordinates their attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He is responsible for several roadside bombings along highways between Kandahar and Zabul provinces and for attacks against Afghan police forces.

-- In the Kandahar district of Kandahar province, an Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban facilitator. The facilitator operates in Kandahar and Farah provinces providing weapons, explosives and vehicles to insurgents.

-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained several suspects and seized multiple weapons while searching for a Haqqani leader in the Sabari district of Khost province. The leader conducts attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district. He also provides weapons, ammunition and equipment to insurgents.

-- In the Jalrayz district of Wardak province, an Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained two suspects and seized multiple mortar rounds and one shotgun during a search for a Taliban leader. The leader conducts attacks against Afghan and coalition convoys traveling throughout the Maidan Shahr district in Wardak province. He also distributes weapons, ammunition and funds to insurgents.

In May 25 operations:
-- Combined forces found and destroyed 20 IEDs consisting of 365 pounds of homemade explosives, 16 pressure plates and 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate in the Zharay and Maiwand districts of Kandahar province.

In May 23 operations:
-- A combined force detained a bomb maker and several other insurgents and seized explosives, IED-making components and weapons in the Tarin Kowt district of Uruzgan province.