Jan 21 2009
Coalition Forces Mount Major Raids in Afghanistan
The day after President Barack Obama was inaugurated and took over position as commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces, Coalition forces in Afghanistan have confirmed that two Taliban leaders in the southeastern part of the country have been killed. Along with the two leaders, 20 other militants were killed and 11 captured.
Mullah Patang, a senior Taliban leader who has carried out countless roadside bombings and attacks against military personnel and civilians, was killed in Kapisa province. In addition to those attacks, Patang was responsible for numerous attempts on the lives of Afghan officials. His mulit-building compound was raided by Coalition forces who used close-air precision munitions to finish the confrontation.
In Kandahar, a senior Taliban commander named Mullah Abdul Rahim Akund had his compound raided, which revealed multiple weapons including 105mm artillery. Akund had been responsible for coordinating hundreds of bombings throughout the area.
Additional raids were carried out in Khowst and Zabol provinces. After investigation, Afghan and Coalition forces revealed that Haqqani militants from outside the country have joined forces with the Taliban in an effort to destabilize the regime.
