Oct. 05., 2011. - Senior Haqqani network leader killed in airstrike

2011-10-S-010
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
For Immediate Release

KABUL, Afghanistan (Oct. 5, 2011) — A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed a senior Haqqani leader and two of his associates during a precision airstrike in Musa Khel district, Khost province, Tuesday.

Dilawar, who was only known by one name, was a principal subordinate to Haji Mali Khan, Afghanistan’s lead Haqqani network leader. Dilawar was killed exactly one week following Khan’s capture, resulting in another significant loss for the insurgent group.

Dilawar operated along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, between the Khost and Paktiya provinces, where he actively coordinated numerous attacks against Afghan forces and facilitated the movement of weapons.

Dilawar also facilitated the movement of foreign fighters and was associated with both al-Qaida and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

Prior to Mali Khan’s capture by the combined Afghan and coalition security force, he worked closely with Dilawar planning attacks throughout the area. Specifically, Dilawar had just conducted an ambush on Afghan forces in Paktiya province last month.

After ensuring no civilians were in the area, the security force called for the airstrike. A follow-on assessment of the area determined no civilians were harmed during the operation.

In an effort to prevent insurgent activity, the Haqqani network and its safe havens remain a top priority for the Afghan and coalition force. Thus far in 2011 security forces have conducted more than 530 operations in an effort to disrupt Haqqani network activities in Eastern Afghanistan, resulting in the death of 20 network leaders and the capture of more than 1,400 suspected Haqqani insurgents.

The death of Dilawar marks another significant milestone in the disruption of the Haqqani network in Afghanistan.

more and background infos from the great Bill Roggio (at longwarjournal):
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Special operations forces killed a senior Haqqani Network commander in an airstrike in Afghanistan along the Pakistan border. The commander was linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and served as the deputy of the top Haqqani leader in Afghanistan who was captured last week.
Dilawar, the Haqqani Network commander, was killed yesterday "during a precision airstrike" in the district of Musa Khel in the eastern Afghan province of Khost, the International Security Assistance Force stated in a press release. Two of his "associates" were also killed in the strike.
Dilawar was "a principal subordinate to Haji Mali Khan," the Haqqani Network's senior commander for Afghanistan and the maternal uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the group's operational leader. Khan was captured last week during a raid in Musa Khel.
As Khan's "principal subordinate," Dilawar "actively coordinated numerous attacks against Afghan forces and facilitated the movement of weapons" along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Dilawar also "facilitated the movement of foreign fighters and was associated with both al Qaeda and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan." The Haqqani Network is known to work closely with both al Qaeda and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Most recently, in August, ISAF and Afghan forces captured a senior Haqqani commander in Paktia province who commanded a large group of fighters that included a significant number of "Uzbek foreign fighters."

ISAF described the killing of Dilawar as "another significant loss for the insurgent group," which has been in the crosshairs of Coalition and Afghan forces. In August, Major General Daniel Allyn, Commanding General of Regional Commander East, told The Long War Journal that the Haqqani Network is "enemy number one."
"The Haqqani network and its safe havens remain a top priority for the Afghan and coalition force," ISAF stated in today's press release, noting that special operations forces have carried out 530 raids against the Network in 2001, resulting in 20 leaders killed and more than 1,400 fighters captured.
Earlier this week, ISAF stated that so far this year, 20 leaders have been killed, and 300 leaders and 1,300 fighters have been captured. It is unclear how many of those captured remain in custody. [See Threat Matrix report, US captures Haqqani Network facilitator who was previously in custody, for details on the detention policy for captive insurgents.]

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archiv...#ixzz1ZzQVxI3W