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.
Intelligence reports indicate the facilitator was actively involved with multiple planned attacks on indiscriminate locations including bazaars and roads.
Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call occupants out of the targeted buildings peacefully before they conducted a search. Forces detained the Taliban facilitator and additional suspects based on questioning at the scene.
Joint security teams have killed two and detained more than 30 individuals associated with terrorist activities in six operations in Zabul since Dec. 1.
Forces conducted the operation in the hours of darkness to minimize the risk to local citizens. No women or children were injured or detained during this operation.
The security forces conducted the operation without firing their weapons.
Article by ISAF Joint Command