Combined Force Kills Armed Insurgents in Balkh Province

Froman International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 20, 2012 – AnAfghan and coalition security force killed two armed insurgents during anoperation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in the Balkh district ofAfghanistan’s Balkh province today, military officials reported.
As the security force approached theTaliban leader’s suspected location, the armed insurgents maneuvered towardthem and were killed when they displayed hostile intent.
No civilians were harmed during theoperation. The security force also detained a suspected insurgent and seizedfirearms and grenades.
In other operations today:
-- An Afghan and coalition force inKandahar province’s Khakrez district arrested a Taliban informant who issuspected of acquiring and providing information regarding Afghan and coalitionsecurity operations to Taliban leaders operating throughout the region. He alsois believed to provide guidance to insurgents for roadside bomb attacks. Thesecurity force also detained an alleged insurgent and seized explosivematerials.
-- In Khost province’s Bak district, anAfghan-led security force supported by coalition troops detained suspectedinsurgents and seized firearms during an operation to arrest a Haqqani networkleader who is believed to coordinate attacks throughout the region,specializing in the use of roadside bombs.
In other news, Afghan and coalitionforces today confirmed the death of Qari Yahya, an Islamic Movement ofUzbekistan leader, during a Sept. 18 operation in Kunduz province’s Qal-al-yeZal district.
As the security force approached QariYahya’s location, he and another IMU leader maneuvered from the compound anddisplayed hostile intent. Qari Yahya was killed, and the other IMU leader wasarrested without injury. No civilians were harmed during the operation.
Qari Yahya was directly responsible forfacilitating and conducting roadside bomb attacks and maintained communicationand logistics ties with senior IMU and Taliban leaders.
The security force also detained otherinsurgents in the operation.