ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
2010-08-CA-304
For Immediate Release
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 KABUL, Afghanistan (Aug. 28) - An Afghan and coalition security force continued their pursuit of a cross-district Taliban commander and facilitator in Zabul province Friday, detaining several suspected insurgents.

The commander is an expert improvised explosive device operative who specializes in the facilitation, construction and placement of IEDs. He is also linked to vehicle-borne IED attacks.

"IEDs plague the people living in southern Afghanistan. They are constantly living under the threat of roadside bombs and vehicle-borne suicide attacks," U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director, said. "Taliban insurgents, like the one pursued last night, are responsible for the death and destruction caused by these weapons."

As the security force approached the targeted compounds north of the village of Davud Kheyl in Shah Joy district, four men ran from several buildings. The security force pursued them. In the process of detaining two of the individuals, the other two men threatened the security force and were subsequently shot and killed. After the area was secure, Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the compounds peacefully, and then secured the area. After questioning the residents at the scene, the security force detained four suspected insurgents.

The security force protected the women and children for the duration of the search.