KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Afghan and international security forces killed a suspected Taliban commander in joint operations in the southern province of Zabul, the U.S. military said.

The U.S. Defense Department said a joint military patrol searched a vehicle near the provincial capital Qalat during operations targeting Taliban leaders suspected of plotting attacks in the region.

A gun battle ensued when the suspect did not comply with the joint security force, prompting a military response. Officials later identified the suspect as the Taliban member who was the target of the operation. The Defense Department did not release his name.

In separate operations, security forces killed more than a dozen militants and captured one suspect in a compound in the northern province of Kunar near the Pakistani border.

U.S. military officials believe the compound was used as a way station to ferry foreign fighters across the border from Pakistan.

Pakistani military officials, for their part, are expected to launch a major operation into the tribal belts along the northeastern border with Pakistan to tackle a looming Taliban threat.

The latest military activity comes as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced Wednesday he would send an additional 500 troops to Afghanistan as part of a revamped war effort there.

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