Several insurgents were killed by Afghan National Security and International Security Assistance Forces in separate clearing operations in southern Afghanistan over the last 24 hours.

An Afghan Army and ISAF patrol spotted some insurgents emplacing an improvised explosive device in Sangin district, Helmand province, Dec. 22. After gaining positive identification, combined forces engaged the enemy position, killing two insurgents.

Afghan and coalition forces detained a Haqqani leader along with several suspected insurgents during a security operation in Khost province yesterday.

Afghan and coalition forces have made it a top priority to neutralize the Haqqani threat in eastern Afghanistan, conducting almost daily operations against their leadership.

The Haqqani leader planned and coordinated spectacular attacks for the Haqqani Network in the Khost bowl. He coordinated closely with Haqqani leaders in Pakistan for guidance and supplies.

Afghan and coalition forces detained numerous suspects during two joint security operations targeting the Taliban network in Kandahar and Logar provinces yesterday.

In Kandahar province, Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspects during a joint security operation targeting Taliban improvised explosive device network in the province.

Several suspected insurgents were detained and two caches were discovered by Afghan National Security and International Security Assistance Forces in separate clearing operations in southern Afghanistan over the last 24 hours.

Afghan and coalition forces conducted four operations targeting Taliban leaders detaining numerous suspected insurgents in Helmand, Kandahar and Nangarhar provinces yesterday.

In Helmand province, Afghan and coalition forces detained two suspects as they conducted a joint security operation targeting Taliban leadership.

Forces detained two suspects in Nahr-e Saraj district while targeting the Gereshk district Taliban senior leader as well as an additional leader in the Lashkar Gah and Nahr-e Saraj areas.

Afghan and coalition forces conducted another deliberate clearing operation aimed at disrupting the Taliban’s freedom of movement in northern Afghanistan.

The joint security force is continuing their efforts to disrupt enemy safe havens, where Taliban leaders use villages throughout the area to conduct operational planning and facilitate their attacks.

More than 10 insurgents were killed and several suspected insurgents detained by Afghan National Security and International Security Assistance Forces in separate clearing operations in eastern, southern and western Afghanistan over the last 24 hours, Dec. 20.

An Afghan National Army and ISAF patrol were engaged by insurgents with small arms fire in Kajaki district, Helmand province, Dec. 19. Combined forces returned several mortar rounds and called for air support. After gaining positive identification, the air weapons team engaged, killing several insurgents.

A coalition soldier recently was shot by an insurgent who was using an Afghan girl as a human shield in Helmand province.

Lance Cpl. Craig Murfitt, a rifleman and medic serving with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, was on a security patrol when the patrol was ordered to reinforce another unit pinned down by enemy fire.

Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban improvised explosive device facilitator during an operation in Zabul province yesterday targeting terrorist networks in the Shah Joy and Qalat Districts.

The forces detained the facilitator and several additional suspects in the Qalat District based on the targeted individual’s association with building, transporting and emplacing IEDs for use in attacks on coalition and Afghan National Army forces.