ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
2010-08-CA-344 For Immediate Release
Download PDF

 KABUL, Afghanistan (Aug. 30) - Afghan and coalition forces captured a Haqqani Network commander and several of his associates during an overnight operation in Khost province. The commander and his fighters were involved in the complex attack on Forward Operating Bases Salerno and Chapman Saturday.

The commander is also involved in improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan civilians and Afghan and coalition forces.

Acting on intelligence tips, Afghan and coalition forces targeted a series of buildings east of Khodizali in Terayzai district to search for the commander. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully and then secured the area.

After questioning all the residents at the scene, the security force identified and detained the commander along with several Haqqani fighters. The security force discovered and destroyed a suicide vest and multiple grenade launchers, hand grenades, automatic weapons, magazines and ammunition.

"We are happy to report the capture of this Haqqani commander and his fighters," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. "They were directly involved in this week's attacks. These fighters will be brought to justice for the attacks they've conducted against Afghan and coalition forces, as well as Afghan civilians."

The security force did not fire their weapons and they protected the women and children for the duration of the search.