 United States and Afghan forces exchanged fire with suspected Taliban militants and killed 17 and captured 16 while combing through a mountainous area, officials said on Tuesday. American military spokeswoman Lt Cindy Moore confirmed that American air and ground forces had been involved in the fighting on Monday in the mountains of Zabul province and that a US helicopter was forced to make a "precautionary landing" because of mechanical problems. She said there were no American casualties and the helicopter quickly returned to base. Zabul governor's spokesman Ali Khail said that the militants were mostly Chechens and Arabs. He said eight Taliban suspects were killed in an initial clash and nine others were killed trying to counterattack Afghan army forces. Khail said no Afghan soldiers were killed or wounded.
| That's pretty significant, I'd say. Just off the top of my head, I'd guess they were US/NATO-trained... |
Khail said the US military provided air support for Afghan forces and that some captured militants were handed over to US custody. Khail added that a local Taliban commander Mullah Abdullah may have been among those killed but that there was no confirmation of his death.
| I think he was part of yesterday's action, so this looks live yesterday's 10 plus 7... |
In another incident, suspected Taliban militants ambushed a Afghan soldiers patrol in Oruzgan province, sparking a one-hour fire fight, said Governor Jan Mohammed Khan. Two Taliban were killed in the fighting on Sunday and Afghan soldiers arrested a regional Taliban commander named Mullah Allah Noor. The other militants escaped into the mountains. |