Taliban commander killed in Afghan-NATO operation

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Afghan and NATO troops killed a Taliban commander who was responsible for suicide bombings, kidnappings, and torture, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said Tuesday.

Muhammed Bobi was killed overnight during a joint operation between the Afghan and NATO troops in the Pol-e Alam district of Logar province, just south of the Afghan capital, Kabul, ISAF said.

Bobi facilitated suicide bombings against local civilians and troops from NATO and the Afghan National Security Forces, ISAF said. He was also involved in the torture and kidnapping of local civilians and was linked to a number of crimes in the area, ISAF said.

"During the joint operation, Bobi was given the option to surrender peacefully, but instead attempted to attack ANSF members," ISAF said. "Fortunately, no civilian casualties resulted from his last act of violence. Joint forces ensured that they responded with the minimum force necessary."

Brig. Gen. Richard Blanchette, an ISAF spokesman, said Bobi's death will have a "significant effect" on the Taliban's ability to conduct operations in the province.

Also Tuesday, the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan announced the deaths of four militants in separate clashes a day earlier in the southern province of Helmand.

Two of the deaths happened after militants attacked a joint U.S. and Afghan patrol, the U.S.-led coalition said, and the combined forces returned fire.

The coalition gave no information about the circumstances of the other two deaths.

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