Afghan and coalition security forces captured a Taliban leader who facilitated improvised explosive devices and provided guidance to his subordinates conducting attacks in Yosuf Khel district.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Airmen from the 510th Fighter Squadron here employed a guided bomb unit-54 laser joint directed attack munition for the first time in the Afghan area of operations recently.

The GBU-54 is the Air Force's newest 500-pound precision weapon, equipped with a special targeting system that uses a combination of Global Positioning System and laser guidance to accurately engage and destroy moving targets.

Afghan and coalition security forces detained four suspected Taliban insurgents in Zabul province Sunday while in pursuit of a Taliban facilitator for an improvised explosive device attack network operating in Qalat district.

The facilitator provides material support to the IED network, including IED components, money, fuel and other provisions, which ultimately endangers the Afghan populace in the area.

Afghan and coalition security forces captured two Taliban senior leaders operating in the city of Kandahar Sunday. The Taliban leaders commanded fighters in attacks against Afghan civilians, as well as Afghan and coalition forces.

They also facilitated Taliban attacks by providing weapons and funding to their fighters.

During an Iraqi Army led cordon and search in the Rashaad Valley near Kirkuk, Iraq, nearly 50 IA soldiers with 2nd Battalion and 4th Battalion of the 15th Brigade, discovered a cache with more than 800 rounds of heavy machine gun ammo buried throughout a field and detained four suspects, Sept. 25.

Afghan and coalition forces killed at least 15 insurgents in a firefight after insurgents attempted to set up an attack position in the Tsowkey district of Kunar province today.

After positively identifying insurgents setting up what has been known as a historical attack position in the area, an air weapons team engaged them, resulting in 15 insurgents killed.

Initial reports indicate all rounds were on target, and there were no injuries to civilians in the area.

Article by IJC Public Affairs Advisory Team- Regional Command North

Video by American Forces Network Afghanistan

Multiple intelligence sources and tips from local civilians led Afghan National Security and International Security Assistance Forces to detain an insurgent leader during a combined operation in Uruzgan province today.

The insurgent was a key leader and facilitator who commanded an insurgent cell that was responsible for the manufacture and emplacement of improvised explosive device in the Mirabad area and who had been trained in Pakistan.

The International Security Assistance Force confirmed the capture of a Nawa-ye Barakzai Taliban senior leader with influence throughout the Nawa and Lashkar Gah Districts.

Afghan and coalition security forces have degraded the Nawah Taliban network through recent operations resulting in the capture of several high-level Taliban operatives within the network.