KABUL, Afghanistan (Aug. 19, 2012) — Afghan
and coalition officials confirmed today that a senior Taliban leader,
Maulawi Nur Mohammad, and his deputy, Atiqullah were among the dozens of
heavily armed insurgents killed in a precision airstrike, in a remote
area of Chapah Darah district, Kunar province, yesterday.

Muhammad,
also known as Turabi, was the senior Taliban leader for Chapah Darah
district. He planned and directed all Taliban activity in the district
including attacks against Afghan civilians and Afghan and coalition
forces.

Atiqullah, also known as Khalid, served as Muhammad’s deputy.

During
the operation, the Afghan and coalition security force observed a large
group of heavily armed insurgents engaging in insurgent activity.
After ensuring there were no civilians in the area, the security force
engaged the insurgents with a precision airstrike.

After the
strike, the security force conducted an initial follow-on assessment and
confirmed the strike had not injured any civilians or damaged any
civilian property.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

Afghan
and coalition officials confirmed today that Afghan and coalition
forces had arrested a Taliban weapons dealer during an operation in
Kandahar district, Kandahar province, yesterday. The arrested weapons
facilitator purchased weapons and other military equipment for Taliban
fighters in the area. Prior to his arrest, he was attempting to deliver
an improvised explosive device to insurgents. The security force also
detained two suspected insurgents during the operation.

In Nad
Ali district, Helmand province yesterday, an afghan and coalition
security force discovered a drug cache. The cache included 100kg (220
pounds) of opium, $1000 in cash and communications equipment.


East

An
Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to arrest a
Taliban leader in Alisheng district, Laghman province, today. The
Taliban leader acquires weapons and ammunition for insurgents and
facilitates attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. During the
operation, a group of insurgents attacked the security force. The force
engaged the insurgents killing three of the attackers. No civilians
were harmed in the exchange. After the engagement, the security force
detained three suspected insurgents.

In Watahpur district, Kunar
province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation
yesterday. During the operation, the security force identified several
insurgents. After ensuring no civilians were in the area, the security
force engaged the insurgents with a precision airstrike, killing many of
them. A post-strike assessment determined the airstrike had not harmed
any civilians or damaged any civilian property.

An Afghan and
coalition force detained several suspected insurgents during an
operation to arrest a Haqqani leader in Khost district, Khost province,
today. The Haqqani leader plans and coordinates attacks against Afghan
and coalition forces in Khost district.