OEF Update, Nov. 11, 2009: Military Divers Find One Missing Soldier; Forces Nab Taliban Militants

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 11, 2009 -- One of the two missing U.S. soldiers was found by a military dive team yesterday in Western Afghanistan. Afghan-international forces continue to search for the other soldier missing since Nov. 4. More information will be provided when appropriate.

Taliban Militants Interdicted in Ghazni:

Afghan-international security forces killed a group of enemy militants and detained a suspected militant in Ghazni province while pursuing a Taliban commander responsible for several attacks in the area and with numerous links to other Taliban commanders.

The joint security force targeted a compound near the village of Akhtar Kheyl in Qara Bagh district after intelligence indicated militant activity. During the operation, the joint force engaged and killed the enemy militants. The joint force searched the compound, detained the suspected militant and recovered IED-making materials and multiple AK-47 rifles and chest racks. No civilians were harmed.

Taliban Militants Detained in Khandahar:

In a separate operation, Afghan-international security forces detained multiple suspected militants in Khandahar province after searching compounds known to be used by a Taliban commander responsible for several attacks in the area.

The joint security force targeted the compounds near the village of Atalay in Kharakaz district after intelligence indicated militant activity. The joint force searched the compounds without incident and detained the suspected militants. No shots were fired, and no one was injured. No civilians were harmed.

Taliban Commander Interdicted in Wardak:

In a different operation, Afghan-international security forces detained a suspected militant in Wardak province identified as a Taliban commander responsible for several attacks and supplying other militant elements in the area.

The joint security force targeted buildings near the village of Qal'ah-ye Muhammad Jan in the Nerkh district after intelligence indicated militant activity. Afghan soldiers of the joint force searched the buildings without incident and detained one suspected militant who was identified as the Taliban commander. No shots were fired, and no one was injured. No civilians were harmed.

ISAF Casualties:

No International Security Assistance Force servicemembers were killed during the past 24 hours.

(Compiled from NATO International Security Assistance Force news releases.)