US-led forces kill over 60 Taliban

KANDAHAR – US-led forces in Afghanistan killed more than 60 Taliban fighters in attacks on their strongholds in the south yesterday, the governor of Kandahar province said.

More than 16 civilians were also killed in the ground and air assault in Panjwai district of Kandahar, which came after several days of some of the heaviest Taliban attacks since they were ousted in 2001. “More than 60 Taliban have been killed and many wounded.Sixteen civilians have also died and 15 are hurt,” governor Khalid Assadullah told a news conference in Kandahar.The US military said 20 Taliban had been confirmed killed.Up to 60 other insurgents were possibly dead, it said.”Air strikes were used to destroy a large enemy weapons cache and several Taliban compounds,” it said.The US military was checking reports of civilian casualties, a spokeswoman said.Violence has surged in Afghanistan in recent months but intensified sharply last Wednesday when the Taliban launched a big attack on a town in Helmand province, to the west of Kandahar.More than than 200 people have been killed since then, according to figures from the US military and Afghan authorities.Most of those killed were militants, but they include dozens of Afghan police and troops and four foreign soldiers.A spokesman for the Taliban, who are fighting to expel foreign troops and oust the elected government, said none of their fighters had been killed yesterday.All of the casualties were civilians, he said.Khalid said the 16 civilians had been killed in air strikes after Taliban took up positions in their houses.”The Taliban used people’s houses as their trenches.They were killed in the bombardment,” he said.The surge in violence comes as NATO is expanding its peacekeeping force from 9 000 to 16 000, in preparation for taking over security responsibilities in the south from US-led forces.- Nampa-Reuters”More than 60 Taliban have been killed and many wounded.Sixteen civilians have also died and 15 are hurt,” governor Khalid Assadullah told a news conference in Kandahar.The US military said 20 Taliban had been confirmed killed.Up to 60 other insurgents were possibly dead, it said.”Air strikes were used to destroy a large enemy weapons cache and several Taliban compounds,” it said.The US military was checking reports of civilian casualties, a spokeswoman said.Violence has surged in Afghanistan in recent months but intensified sharply last Wednesday when the Taliban launched a big attack on a town in Helmand province, to the west of Kandahar.More than than 200 people have been killed since then, according to figures from the US military and Afghan authorities.Most of those killed were militants, but they include dozens of Afghan police and troops and four foreign soldiers.A spokesman for the Taliban, who are fighting to expel foreign troops and oust the elected government, said none of their fighters had been killed yesterday.All of the casualties were civilians, he said.Khalid said the 16 civilians had been killed in air strikes after Taliban took up positions in their houses.”The Taliban used people’s houses as their trenches.They were killed in the bombardment,” he said.The surge in violence comes as NATO is expanding its peacekeeping force from 9 000 to 16 000, in preparation for taking over security responsibilities in the south from US-led forces.- Nampa-Reuters