Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2011 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed Malawi Sahib, a Taliban leader, during an operation in the Baraki Barak district of Afghanistan's Logar province today, military officials reported.

Officials said the insurgent leader was found hiding inside a compound. Upon being discovered, he lunged toward a member of the force and attempted to seize his weapon.

Assessing an immediate threat, the security force fired, killing the Taliban leader.

Malawi Sahib had distributed weapons and ammunition to insurgent fighters for use in attacks against Afghan forces.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- In the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, a combined force captured a Taliban leader who is linked to a weapons-trafficking operation from Pakistan. The weapons were distributed to senior Taliban leaders in Afghanistan's Helmand and Kandahar provinces. The security force also confiscated bomb-making materials and detained several other suspected insurgents.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban facilitator in the Panjwa'i district of Kandahar province. The facilitator conducts roadside-bomb attacks and moves explosives throughout the Panjwa'i and Dand districts.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader in the Maidan Shahr district of Wardak province. The leader supplied weapons to fighters and coordinated attacks against Afghan forces.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban facilitator and detained two other suspects in the Zurmat district of Paktiya province. The facilitator provided a safe haven for insurgent leaders and fighters in the district, and moved fighters and weapons.

-- In the Sabari district of Khost province, a combined force detained two suspects while searching for a Haqqani leader. The insurgent leader directs attacks against Afghan forces and distributes explosives throughout the district.

In yesterday's Afghanistan operations:

-- A combined patrol found a weapons cache containing six rocket-propelled grenades, 12 RPG motors, two stick grenades, more than 500 rounds of small-arms ammunition and improvised explosive device-making components in the Tarin Kot district of Uruzgan province.

-- A coalition force discovered a weapons cache containing two rockets, four 82mm mortar rounds and seven RPG launchers in the Chahar Darah district of Kunduz province.

-- In the Achin district of Nangarhar province, a combined patrol found a drug cache containing 2,750 pounds of hashish.

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