KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Mirwais Sabri, a network leader of the Haqqani group, was killed during a joint security operation in Afghanistan's Khost province, NATO said Tuesday.
"Afghan and coalition forces killed Mirwais Sabri, a Haqqani network leader," who had been targeted during a coalition air strike Monday, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said on its Web site.
The report said Sabri was responsible for coordinating and conducting improvised explosive device attacks and small-arms attacks on coalition forces.
"Additionally, he maintained close contact with Haqqani Network leaders and facilitators," it said, adding two other insurgents also died in the operation.
The independent Haqqani network, led by Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani and his son, Sirajuddin, is seen by U.S. intelligence and other experts as the most serious threat to U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Though independent, the network is tied to the Taliban and operates in Afghanistan's southeastern provinces. It is also suspected to be connected to the Pakistani intelligence.
Separately, the ISAF confirmed the deaths of two Taliban leaders and the capture of a third insurgent in joint operations during the weekend in Kunar and Kunduz provinces. The report said Qari Baryal, a Taliban leader with 25 fighters and associated with al-Qaida, died in a coalition air strike Kunar province.
Maulawi Zahir, Taliban leader in Khanabad district of Kunduz province, was killed Sunday, the report said. He was identified as an improvised explosive device and weapons facilitator who had ties with several senior Taliban leaders in Pakistan.
The name of the Taliban leader taken into custody was not provided. The report said he was responsible for distribution and use of improvised explosive devices and suicide vehicle-borne IEDs in the province.
