Haqqani leader killed, several suspects held

KABUL leader, who led an improvised explosive device (IEDs) production cell, was killed in an airstrike in the Sabari district of southeastern Khost province, the alliance said on Friday.

An Afghan-coalition security force conducted an operation to find Haqqani leader Abdul Wali on Thursday, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.  

During the operation, the joint force called for an airstrike and a follow-on assessment confirmed that Wali and one other insurgent had been killed in the raid.

Wali led a Haqqani cell that specialised in production of IEDs used in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region, the statement said. It accused the rebel leader of coordinating the shipment and distribution of explosive materials to insurgents.

Elsewhere, two suspected fighters were detained during an operation by an Afghan-coalition security force in pursuit of an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) leader in the Ishkamish district of northern Takhar province.

The force seized several improvised explosive device components, the statement said, adding the IMU leader controlled a group of guerrillas responsible for attacks throughout neighbouring Kunduz province.

An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, detained several suspected militants in the Shah Wali Kot district of southern Kandahar province on Friday.

The offensive was conducted to arrest a Taliban leader, a weapons supplier who distributes rocket-propelled grenades and IEDs to the rebels in the region.

pr/ma/mud

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