Mullah Abdul Bari – naar verluidt de belangrijkste man achter de ‘bermbommencampagne’ in Uruzgan – blijkt te zijn uitgeschakeld door Australische Special Forces en het Afghaanse leger.  Lieutenant-Generaal Mark Evans (Chef Operatiën van de Australische krijgsmacht) zei in een verklaring verder dat Abdul Bari ook verantwoordelijk was voor het aansturen van zelfmoordactivisten, de opleiding van buitenlandse strijders en de verdeling van wapens.

Het uitschakelen van mullah Abdul Bari blijkt uit de verklaring een van te voren geplande actie te zijn geweest, waarvoor in de woorden van generaal Evans “de noodzakelijke toestemmingen van ISAF” zijn verkregen en die is uitgevoerd conform het oorlogsrecht en de geweldinstructies van ISAF.

INSURGENT LEADER MULLAH ABDUL BARI KILLED IN ORUZGAN

A senior Taliban insurgent leader who was known to have facilitated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and suicide bomb attacks in Oruzgan province has been killed in an operation by Australian Special Forces and Afghan National Army troops.

The Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, said Mullah Abdul Bari was known to have controlled suicide bombers, the training of foreign fighters and distribution of weapons.

“He was also identified as a primary IED facilitator and was responsible for the coordination of device emplacement in the province.  His weapons of choice were road-side bombs and suicide bombers, and his death means that Taliban insurgents operating in the region have lost one of their key facilitators,” Lieutenant General Evans said.

“The removal of Mullah Abdul Bari will significantly disrupt Taliban insurgent efforts to conduct actions that injure and kill Afghan and coalition troops.

“Mullah Bari has also been confirmed to have been directly involved in the placement of the improvised explosive devices which have targeted Australian troops.”

Lieutenant General Evans said the recent operation also killed several other Taliban insurgents.

“The operation received the necessary International Security Assistance Force approvals and was conducted in accordance with the Laws of Armed Conflict and Rules of Engagement.

“This operation will contribute to a safer, more stable environment for the people of Oruzgan,” Lieutenant General Evans said.

(source: Department of Defence, Australia, 1 april 2009)