Posted on 04/19/2005 6:48:57 AM PDT by Valin
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - U.S. and Afghan forces conducting a sweep in a mountainous area south of the capital exchanged fierce fire with suspected Taliban rebels, killing eight and capturing 16 in some of the heaviest fighting in months, officials said Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for the American military, Lt. Cindy Moore, confirmed that American air and ground forces were involved in the battle Monday in the mountains of southern Zabul province, and that a U.S. helicopter that developed mechanical problems was forced to make a ``precautionary landing.'' She said there were no American casualties and the helicopter quickly returned to base.
A spokesman in the Zabul governor's office, Ali Khail, said Chechens and Arabs were among the eight people killed and 16 captured. Khail also said the U.S. military provided air support for the Afghan forces, and that some of the captured militants were turned over to U.S. custody. Khail said a local Taliban commander named Mullah Abdullah may have been among those killed, but that there was no confirmation of his death.
In another clash, suspected Taliban rebels ambushed a patrol of Afghan soldiers in southwestern Oruzgan province, sparking a one-hour firefight, Gov. Jan Mohammed Khan told The Associated Press. Two Taliban were killed in the fighting Sunday, and Afghan soldiers arrested a regional Taliban commander named Mullah Allah Noor. The other militants escaped into the mountains.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military said Monday that one of its CH-47 helicopters operating in the south made a ``precautionary landing'' near Kandahar after developing a mechanical problem. Moore said there were no injuries in the incident, which occurred early Sunday, and that the helicopter was repaired on site. A rapid reaction force was sent out to bring the soldiers on board safely back to base. Moore had no details on how many soldiers were on the helicopter when it was forced to land.
"...that some of the captured militants were turned over to U.S. custody"
It must really suck to be them. Can you say GTMO? Bet they are warming up a cot for them already.
The Russkies must be eating their hearts out. For 8 years they had 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, suffered huge casualties, expended immense amounts of ordinance, bankrupted their country, and couldn't win. And they were next door.
We come from thousands of miles away with 15,000 troops, scatter our enemies, chase them into and throughout the mountains, and don't suffer a tenth of the casualties they do. Better technology, and superb training and commitment by our field troops is the difference (all created by a free and free-market society).
The Russkie experience in Chechnya suggests they haven't learned a thing.
The Russkie experience in Chechnya suggests they haven't learned a thing.
It's a point I've made on Chechnya threads.
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