June 22: Afghan-ISAF Operations in Southern, Northern Afghanistan
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan  2010-06-CA-085  For Immediate Release

 An Afghan-international security force detained several suspected insurgents in Helmand Province yesterday while pursuing a senior Taliban commander who operates in the area.   The commander is an IED facilitator, Taliban fund raiser and is also suspected of involvement in suicide attacks. The security force detained the individuals while searching a compound in the Nawa Barak district.
 Afghan and international partners conducted an operation just north of Babaji in Helmand Province Sunday night. The intent of the operation was to disrupt a Taliban network which supplies explosives and other material used in the construction of roadside bombs.   After surrounding the compound housing the insurgents, Afghan Special Police (ASP) called for all residents to exit the compound. When several insurgents failed to follow directions from police and instead presented a deadly threat to the combined force, they were killed.   ASP ensured the remaining residents exited the compound safely. A number of women and children were protected and two men were taken into custody.  No civilians were injured during the operation.   "This was another in a serious of operations intended to reduce the threat of roadside bombs which have killed innocent Afghan civilians, as well as Afghan and ISAF partners. It also demonstrates the increasing capacity of the Afghan Special Police who, in partnership with ISAF, are successfully disrupting the insurgency in Helmand," said Lt. Col. Todd Vician, an ISAF Joint Command spokesman.