Combined Force Captures Insurgent Facilitator

 A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a facilitator for the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorist organization, along with two other suspected insurgents, in the Bangi district of Afghanistan’s Takhar province yesterday, military officials reported.

The facilitator had coordinated attacks against Afghan government officials in northern Afghanistan, officials said.

In other Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined force detained two suspects during a search for a Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin and Taliban leader in the Alingar district of Laghman province. The insurgent leader plans attacks against Afghan forces. Six rocket-propelled grenade boosters were confiscated.

-- In the Sayyidabad district of Wardak province, a combined force detained several suspects while searching for a Taliban facilitator who conducts abductions and attacks throughout the region.

-- A combined force captured a Haqqani network facilitator and several suspects in the Pul-e Alam district of Logar province. The facilitator coordinated insurgent activity in the province.

-- A combined force captured a Haqqani network facilitator and another suspect in the Terayzai district of Khost province. The facilitator distributed rockets and roadside bombs, and he conducted attacks against Afghan forces.

-- A combined force confiscated bomb-making materials during a search for a Taliban leader in the Zurmat district of Paktia province. The leader constructs and stores roadside bombs and other weapons and leads insurgents in attacks against Afghan forces in the Zurmat and Gardez districts.

-- In the Ziruk district of Paktika province, a combined force detained a suspect during a search for a Haqqani network facilitator. The facilitator constructs roadside bombs and provides explosives training to other insurgent leaders.

-- Afghan and coalition forces detained 21 suspects and seized two weapons caches in eastern Afghanistan. Afghan forces detained 15 people in Khost province’s Sabari district, and Afghan forces detained a suspect in the Dehyak district of Ghazni province. Coalition forces in the Sayyidabad district of Wardak province detained a man for having a hidden rifle, and an Afghan security force detained four suspects in the Mehtar Lam district of Laghman province. The Afghan force also seized eight mortar rounds and seven fuses. Another cache containing bomb-making materials, 100 pounds of explosives, five rocket-propelled grenade boosters and fuses, a pressure plate and wiring and casing materials was seized in the Gurbuz district of Khost province.

In Oct. 23 operations:

-- In Kandahar province’s Registan district, a combined patrol detained numerous suspects and seized 1,477 pounds of wet opium and 198 pounds of dry opium.

-- In the Tarin Kot district of Uruzgan province, a combined patrol detained several insurgents during an operation to disrupt an insurgent lethal-aid and narcotics network.

-- A combined patrol killed two insurgents and detained a suspect in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. One of the deceased insurgents had directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The patrol seized a grenade and some small arms.

-- A combined force detained two insurgents, including a suspected insurgent leader, in the Kabul district of Kabul province. The leader is responsible for supplying lethal aid used in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined patrol seized a 107 mm rocket, 37 75 mm rounds and a homemade grenade in the Ab Band district of Ghazni province.