Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Coalition, Afghans Kill, Capture Taliban Fighters

American Forces Press Service

Dec. 23, 2008 - Coalition and Afghan forces killed eight Taliban fighters in separate operations in Afghanistan yesterday,
military officials reported. In the first operation, coalition troops were targeting a Taliban militant's compound about 40 miles northeast of Kabul when they were fired on by insurgents. The troops returned fire, killing six armed men. They detained three other fighters.

The men are suspected of leading terrorist activities, including trafficking foreign fighters, in Kabul, Laghman and Kapisa provinces. The troops protected 21 women and 30 children during the operation, and seized multiple assault rifles and other
military equipment.

Earlier in the day, coalition troops and Afghan commandos killed two Taliban fighters in the western province of Herat.

Afghan commandos were conducting an early morning raid on a senior Taliban commander's compound in the Zer-e-Koh Valley when coalition troops identified multiple armed militants maneuvering toward the rear of the compound. As the commandos approached, they were fired on by the militants. The commandos pinpointed, pursued and isolated the fleeing militants in the open. Coalition forces responded with close air-support, resulting in the deaths of two armed insurgents.

The coalition is investigating reports of a noncombatant casualty during the operation.

(Complied from U.S. Forces Afghanistan news releases.)

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