ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update April 14, 2011
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan 2011-04-S-042 For Immediate Release  KABUL, Afghanistan (April 14, 2011)  A coalition force killed several al-Qaida insurgents, including the suspected al-Qaida leader in Kunar province, with a precision airstrike in the Dangam district of Kunar, yesterday.  After verifying insurgent activity and careful planning to avoid civilian casualties and mitigate collateral damage, coalition aircraft were called in to conduct the airstrike. Initial reports indicate no civilians were harmed in the strike.

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ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update April 16, 2011
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan 2011-04-S-047 For Immediate Release  KABUL, Afghanistan (April 16, 2011) ISAF, today, confirmed the identity of an al Qaida leader killed during an air strike.  The leader, by the name of Waqas, was killed during a precision air strike in Dangnam district, Kunar province, April 14.  Waqas was a Pakistani al Qaida leader operating in Kunar, who coordinated attacks against coalition forces. He was associated with another Pakistan-based senior al Qaida leader and together they conducted training for members throughout the province, as well as weapons procurement.

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ISAF Confirms Number 2 Insurgent Killed in Coalition Airstrike
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan 2011-04-S-079 For Immediate Release   KABUL, Afghanistan (April 26, 2011) – The International Security Assistance Force confirmed their number two overall targeted insurgent in Afghanistan was killed during an airstrike in Dangam district, Kunar province, April 13.  Al-Qaida senior leader Abu Hafs al-Najdi, also known as Abdul Ghani, a Saudi Arabian national, operated primarily from Kunar and traveled frequently between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He directed al-Qaida operations in the province, including recruiting; training and employing fighters; obtaining weapons and equipment; organizing al-Qaida finances; and planning attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.  Abdul Ghani, and numerous other insurgents, including another al-Qaida leader, Waqas, were killed in the April 13 airstrike.  Abdul Ghani was responsible for the coordination of numerous high-profile attacks. On the morning of his death, he reportedly directed the suicide attack that killed tribal elder Malik Zarin and nine other Afghan civilians.  Throughout late 2010 and early this year, Abdul Ghani employed his network of insurgents against security force outposts throughout the province. These attacks included a December attack on a coalition forward operating base and two February attacks against an Afghan security force outpost.  Abdul Ghani commonly instructed subordinate leaders to conduct kidnapping operations against foreigners traveling between Asmar and Asadabad, and he was responsible for directing suicide bomb attacks targeting U.S. government officials.  Additionally, Abdul Ghani regularly circulated throughout Kunar, establishing insurgent camps and training sites, teaching insurgents explosive device construction and attack procedures.  He was also a key financial conduit between Pakistan-based leaders and insurgent operatives in Afghanistan. Abdul Ghani was able to streamline control of assets and provide considerably more funding to insurgent fighters. This led to increased funds to provide weapons, explosives and equipment to multiple insurgent attack cells.  Abdul Ghani had been the focus of coalition force efforts since at least 2007, and at the time of his death, was meeting Waqas. The two insurgents frequently worked together in coordinating attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.   The al-Qaida network and its safe havens remains a top priority for Afghan and coalition forces. In the last month, coalition forces have killed more than 25 al-Qaida leaders and fighters, and the death of Abdul Ghani marks a significant milestone in the disruption of the al-Qaida network.