Forces Detain Leader, Suspected Insurgents After Taliban Funeral
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan 2010-11-S-299

KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov. 24) – Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban improvised explosive device cell leader and several suspected insurgents in Helmand province yesterday.
The forces successfully conducted the operation to capture the IED cell leader after he attended the funeral of an affiliated terrorist leader earlier in the day in Garm Ser district.
The now-detained leader directed and conducted attacks on coalition forces in the Garm Ser and Reg-e Khan Neshin districts. His cell operated mainly in the Safar Bazaar and Durzay areas.
The targeted individual and his IED cell members conducted hit-and-run attacks on International Security Assistance Force foot patrols moving through the cell’s operating area. Additionally, they are involved in the facilitation of IED materials received from Pakistan.
The joint security force used the intelligence leads regarding the location of the funeral to track the individual to the targeted location.
Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call all occupants to exit the targeted buildings peacefully before conducting the search. The search team recovered Pakistani identification cards supporting the suspected illegal import of IED materials. The Afghan and coalition forces detained the suspects based on initial questioning at the scene.
The joint security team conducted the operation in the hours of darkness to minimize the risk to local citizens. No women or children were injured or detained during this operation.
The security forces conducted the operation without firing their weapons.