The Scotsman - International- 50 Taleban die in US-led strikes
UP TO 50 Taleban fighters were killed yesterday in an air and ground operation by United States and Afghan forces against hundreds of guerrillas in the southern province of Zabul, Afghan officials said.
"The deaths were the result of heavy bombing by US forces and ground attacks by government forces," the provincial governor, Hamdullah Watandoost said. "We have seen 40 to 50 dead bodies." A main Taleban guerrilla base was over-run, he said.
"Our mopping-up operation continues and we have besieged the entire Taleban force who have no way to escape," he said.
Juman Khan, a local police chief, said US planes had pounded mountain areas where up to 600 Taleban fighters were believed to be cornered after launching weekend attacks. Ground forces including about 450 Afghans and two dozen Americans, had captured up to 40 suspects and suffered no casualties.
"The rest of Taleban, I think, have fled," he said. As far as I can see, the Taleban have been defeated totally here and we have captured their bases."
Mr Khan described the Taleban force as one of the biggest concentrations since Afghanistan�s Taleban government was overthrown in late 2001.
A death toll of 50 would be the biggest single-day setback for a resurgent Taleban movement in more than a year. In early June, government forces claimed to have killed 40 fighters near the Pakistan border.
UP TO 50 Taleban fighters were killed yesterday in an air and ground operation by United States and Afghan forces against hundreds of guerrillas in the southern province of Zabul, Afghan officials said.
"The deaths were the result of heavy bombing by US forces and ground attacks by government forces," the provincial governor, Hamdullah Watandoost said. "We have seen 40 to 50 dead bodies." A main Taleban guerrilla base was over-run, he said.
"Our mopping-up operation continues and we have besieged the entire Taleban force who have no way to escape," he said.
Juman Khan, a local police chief, said US planes had pounded mountain areas where up to 600 Taleban fighters were believed to be cornered after launching weekend attacks. Ground forces including about 450 Afghans and two dozen Americans, had captured up to 40 suspects and suffered no casualties.
"The rest of Taleban, I think, have fled," he said. As far as I can see, the Taleban have been defeated totally here and we have captured their bases."
Mr Khan described the Taleban force as one of the biggest concentrations since Afghanistan�s Taleban government was overthrown in late 2001.
A death toll of 50 would be the biggest single-day setback for a resurgent Taleban movement in more than a year. In early June, government forces claimed to have killed 40 fighters near the Pakistan border.
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