At least 22 Taliban fighters were killed in separate operations by the US-led coalition forces in southern Afghanistan, locqal media reported Tuesday. Provincial officials said at least 20 guerillas were killed in a pre-dawn operation in the Sangin and Musa Qala district of Helmand province on Tuesday, the Pajhwok news agency reported. The Afghan and coalition forces were supported by the air force, spokesman for the provincial governor Mohyuddin told the agency. Police added that the operations were continuing.
In another operation in the south-eastern Ghazni province, security forces killed two Taliban rebels on Monday night.
Coalition forces have been conducting 'Operation Mountain Thrust' against the Taliban fighters in the southern Afghan provinces since April. Scores of Taliban rebels have been killed since the beginning of the operation, regarded as the largest such offensive since the 2001 toppling of the Taliban regime.