KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Afghan and international forces killed several insurgents and detained others during a mission to locate a Taliban leader in Helmand province, officials said.
An Afghan National Security and International Security Assistance Force patrol surrounded the compound of a Taliban leader suspected of planning, coordinating and executing numerous small arms and improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, an ISAF Joint Command release said.
After securing the perimeter, the patrol used loudspeakers to call on occupants to exit peacefully.
Two armed insurgents were killed when they exited a building and threatened the patrol, the release said.
Four men, eight women and nine children exited peacefully during the operation and were protected, the ISAF said.
The men were detained after testing showed they had recently handled explosives, and they were handed over to Afghan security forces for questioning.
