Dozens of militants and their leaders have been killed in a series of joint military operations by Afghan and coalition forces in different Afghan provinces since Saturday, the Interior Ministry and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said on Monday.
"Afghan National Police (ANP), the Army and intelligence agency in collaboration with the NATO-led coalition forces launched seven operations in Kunar, Nangarhar, Kunduz, Wardak, Logar, Paktia and Helmand provinces, killing 44 armed Taliban insurgents and detaining 20 others within the past 24 hours," the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
It was the latest in a series of intensified joint cleanup operations against insurgents in the war-torn country recently.
More than a dozen armed insurgents, including Taliban militant Mahmood who coordinated the May 11 insider attack that killed one coalition service-member, was killed in air strike in Bar Kunar district, Kunar province, on Saturday. The operation was part of a campaign to track down and find insurgents involved with insider attacks, ISAF said in a press release.
Asadullah, an al-Qaeda-associated facilitator who is believed to be behind the August 8 suicide attack, was killed in an air strike in Asadabad district, Kunar province, on Saturday. He supported operations of terrorist networks, organizing and conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the Watahpur Valley.
Mullah Jalal, the Taliban leader for Ghaziabad district, Kunar province, was killed in an air strike on Saturday. He is suspected of controlling all Taliban activity in Ghaziabad and, prior to his death, issued plans to increase attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces. He also met frequently with other Taliban senior leaders to discuss strategies against the local Afghan forces. At the time of the air strike, Mullah Jalal and multiple armed insurgents were preparing attacks on nearby Afghan security forces, ISAF said. Many of the Taliban cadres were killed during the operation.
Taliban attack specialist Rashid was shot dead by Afghan- coalition forces in Sayyidabad district, Wardak province, on Monday. As the security forces approached Rashid's location, he and several armed insurgents opened fire on the troops. The security force returned fire, killing Rashid and several other insurgents.
Rashid, also known as Zubair, is believed to have planned and conducted several ambush-style attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in recent months using mortars, heavy machine guns and mines. At the time of his death, Rashid was involved in attempting to acquire additional weapons to support further insurgent attacks in the region. Security forces also detained one suspected insurgent and seized several assault rifles.
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