Coalition in Afghanistan Hunts Down Leaders of Deadly August Ambush

The US military says coalition forces have hunted down and killed at least two of the leaders of the deadly ambush, August 18, that claimed the lives of ten French paratroopers. The attack happened in Sarobi district, Kabul Province, just 40 miles from the capital itself.

The two Taliban “sub-commanders” (as described by the US military) were killed August 30 when coalition forces attempted to search a compound in Nijrab district, Kapisa Province, but came under sustained small arms and grenade fire. Air strikes were called in leaving Ahmad Shah and Mullah Roullah, plus six other militants, dead.

Both leaders were known terrorist facilitators in both the movement of fighters, as well as arms, into the Tag Ab Valley of Kapisa Province and surrounding areas.

Since the attack on the joint French/US/Afghan patrol, coalition forces have been aggressively seeking out those responsible. Tag Ab is just northwest of the ambush site.

Three other Taliban leaders and eight fighters were also killed in two separate engagements last month:

Qari Nijat and four other militants were killed August 5, also in Nijrab district, Kapisa Province. The coalition says Nijat was a leader wanted for a bombing in the Tag Ab bazaar as well as the kidnapping, torture and killing of Afghan nationals including police.

Khairullah Nezami and Qari Ezmarai, and four other militants, were killed in the Tag Ab Valley August 23. Both men were known to the coalition as facilitators for foreign insurgents coming into Afghanistan.

Historically, the Tag Ab Valley has been a Taliban island surrounded by non-sympathetic populations just north of Kabul. French troops recently took control of the area from American and Italian forces as the French continue to bolster their ground forces.
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