Special Forces Continue to Remove Insurgent Commander Threat

Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) detained an insurgent commander during a cordon and search mission in Uruzgan Province on 3 January 2012.

Commanding Officer of SOTG Lieutenant Colonel J, whose full name cannot be revealed for security reasons, said a high level insurgent commander was detained with several other persons of interest.

Lieutenant Colonel J said the mission was to target insurgent leadership operations and to specifically detain the insurgent commander for his involvement with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and attacks on Afghan civilians.

“The insurgent commander is suspected of leading a network of 30-50 insurgents who were responsible for manufacturing and emplacing IEDs and supplying IED parts to insurgents in the Tarin Kot bowl,” he said.

“It is alleged the insurgent network was responsible for a number of kidnappings and beatings of local nationals.”

Lieutenant Colonel J said ANSF and SOTG would continue to detain insurgents who have any involvement in manufacturing, emplacing or supplying IEDs and their components.

“IEDs not only kill and wound Coalition Forces, more disturbingly they kill and wound innocent Afghan civilians. If insurgents are involved with IEDs it is only a matter of time until we find them,” he said.

No Afghan or Australian troops were wounded or killed during the missions.

The Afghan National Security and Special Operations Task Forces continue to improve the security situation in Uruzgan Province, focusing on disrupting insurgent networks.

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