Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Taliban Fighters in Helmand Province

American Forces Press Service

Nov. 9, 2007 - Afghan national security forces and coalition forces engaged and killed several Taliban fighters near the Nahr Surkh district of Afghanistan's Helmand province yesterday. The combined force was conducting a reconnaissance patrol near the district when a significant number of insurgents engaged friendly elements with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. The combined force immediately engaged the Taliban fighters with small-arms fire and close-air support, killing many of the insurgents.

"The Taliban is desperate for a success, but at every turn (Afghan national security forces) and coalition forces have successfully stopped them," said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman.

In other news, Afghan and coalition forces have refuted Taliban claims of control of the Tarin Kowt-Kandahar road, a major road used for transporting commerce between Kandahar and Oruzgan provinces.

The Taliban claimed Nov. 6 that they had taken control of the road. In response, Afghan and coalition forces quickly launched a mission to secure the road. Once the combined force arrived, they discovered traffic was flowing and that the Taliban's claims were false. Afghan forces are providing security for the route and remain in control of this ground line of communication.

"In the absence of any military success, the Taliban routinely rely on false reports in a vain attempt to deceive the Afghan people," Belcher said.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)