Canada ping!
Please FReepmail me to get on or off this ping list.
Posted on 06/17/2006 7:22:34 AM PDT by new yorker 77
Coalition forces pressed forward with a major offensive in southern Afghanistan, killing an estimated 45 insurgents in attacks on two Taliban militant camps, military officials said Saturday.
Most died when Afghan and coalition forces surprised militants as they gathered at a "known enemy camp" in Khod Valley, part of the Shaheed Hasas district of Uruzgan province, the military said in a statement.
"Coalition forces tracked the development of this meeting until there were more than 50 extremists gathered before attacking," said military spokesman Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick.
About 40 militants were killed, including bombers, their financial backers and local leaders responsible for attacks against Afghan civilians and the army, the military said.
"Coalition forces have delivered a quick and severe blow to the enemy today," Fitzpatrick said.
Separately, Afghan and coalition forces conducted a raid on a Taliban compound near Tarin Kowt, the capital of Uruzgan, killing five insurgents, the military said. They also seized about eight pounds of opium.
One U.S. soldier was wounded in the raid. He was later listed in stable condition.
Also Friday, two coalition soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in Asadabad district in eastern Kunar province as they were conducting a security sweep of the area, the military said. Their nationalities were not released.
The combat operations were part of Operation Mountain Thrust, the largest anti-Taliban military campaign undertaken since the former regime's 2001 ouster in an American-led invasion.
More than 10,000 U.S.-led troops were deployed this week across southern Afghanistan to quell a Taliban resurgence before NATO-led forces take over from the coalition this summer.
Earlier this week, coalition forces said they killed an estimated 40 militants in a remote, mountainous area of southeastern Paktika province in operations in support of Mountain Thrust. One coalition member was wounded in that operation.
U.S., Canadian, British and Afghan troops have fanned out over four restive provinces — Helmand, Uruzgan, Kandahar and Zabul — to hunt down Taliban fighters blamed for the surge in ambushes and bombings.
Extremist forces, primarily Taliban, have escalated attacks against coalition and Afghan troops, particularly in the south, in the bloodiest campaign of violence launched since 2001. More than 500 people, mostly militants, have been killed in the past month.
Also Friday, Afghan authorities arrested 12 Taliban fighters who were attending the funeral of a slain commander in the Qarabagh district of Ghazni province, governor Haji Sher Alam said.
Afghan police and soldiers also confiscated a dozen AK-47 assault rifles, eight rocket-propelled grenade launchers and four motorbikes, he said.
Four highway policemen were killed in southern Kandahar province when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle, provincial officials said.
Coalition forces also came under attack in southern Uruzgan province and neighboring Zabul province but no casualties were reported, said coalition spokesman Maj. Quentin Innis.
Operation Mountain Thrust began in mid-May with limited attacks and raids launched by coalition forces. The offensive's main phase opened Thursday and is expected to expand further over the coming days.
Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
Great news. I accept this at face value. I will wait, however, for another 6 months when questionable 'eyewitnesses' say all but one or two were actual militants who just happened to be dropping off food and medicine to a group of handicapped orphans and their nurses.
I would also prefer the term 'terrorist' as opposed to 'militant' or 'insurgent'.
These are the two terms created by the MSM to get the average American to not hear terrorist every five seconds.
Agree! They are terrorist. Or if one would prefer, rabid gang members.
Reminds me of a song by the band Blur.....
WHOO-HOO!!!
Actually, the prime reason for the escalation is that we are moving coalition troops in strength to areas of the south where the Taliban have been left alone. What is being described as Taliban escalation is actually Taliban resistance to our offensive.
Ping.
Canada ping!
Please FReepmail me to get on or off this ping list.
Welcome! :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.