An Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents and captured a Haqqani Network commander in Paktiya yesterday. The commander was in charge of two insurgent cells, which regularly carried out ambushes and mortar attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
The security force targeted a vehicle in Zormat district of Paktiya province after they observed the commander putting a large heavy anti-aircraft machine gun in the vehicle. After ensuring no civilians were present, an air weapons team performed a precision strike on the vehicle.
A follow-on ground force inspected the area and found several insurgents were killed in the precision strike. The vehicle contained multiple automatic weapons, an anti-aircraft machine gun with 850 rounds of ammunition, rocket propelled grenades, sniper ammunition and improvised explosive device material including multiple blasting caps and a detonation device. The security force detained the commander and an additional suspected insurgent and destroyed the vehicle and weapons at the scene.
The security force identified one of the killed insurgents as a former detainee taken during an Afghan and coalition force operation in March.
"We won't stop pushing the enemies of Afghanistan until this country is secure and its citizens can live a peaceful life," Col. Rafael Torres, ISAF Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director said.
Article by ISAF Joint Command