Afghanistan military detain Taliban

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- An Afghanistan military offensive in Paktya province has led to the detention of several suspected insurgents.

Officials say Afghanistan's elite military force conducted an operation in the Zormat district of Paktya province that resulted in the arrest of several suspected Taliban operatives, the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force 82 reported.

The offensive was an effort aimed at an alleged Taliban bomb-making site in Sheykhan village. When Afghan commandos raided the suspected facility, Taliban militants responded with small-arms fire against the unit.

"Once again, the commandos demonstrated their ability to rapidly respond to the concerns of local citizens and the directives of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan," Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman, said in a statement. "The aggressive attitude and enhanced skills allowed them to seize the initiative and work well with their partnered (Afghan police) throughout this operation."

"Coalition forces are continuing to disrupt the Taliban's supply of weapons in Afghanistan. We are eroding the Taliban's resources and their ability to bring harm on the Afghan people."