Posted on 06/25/2014 6:05:50 AM PDT by huldah1776
LASHKAR GAH Afghanistan (Reuters) - Taliban militants have been locked in fighting with Afghan forces this week to wrest control of a southern district, provincial authorities said on Wednesday, in a struggle that has killed or wounded dozens of people.
The Taliban launched its summer offensive in the middle of May and has ramped up attacks across the country, a major concern for the government, as most foreign troops leave by the end of the year.
As many as 800 Taliban fighters have targeted government offices and police outposts in the Sangin district of Helmand province, said provincial government spokesman Omar Zwak.
"Hundreds of fresh (Afghan) troops have arrived and a full-scale battle is going on," said Zwak.
At least 13 policemen, eight army soldiers and 100 Taliban fighters were killed in five days of fighting, said provincial police chief Abdul Qayum Baqizoy.
He could not confirm the exact number of civilian casualties, but said they stood at around 40.
A Taliban spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
Helmand province is a major route for the transit of opium and some districts are controlled by drug dealers and the Taliban.
Attaullah Afghan, a tribal elder in Sangin, said the Taliban attacks aimed to try and open a route to the border to smuggle narcotics.
In a separate incident, two rockets landed in Kabul on Tuesday night, one in the vicinity of the airport, wounding four people, including one woman.
(Reporting by Mohammad Stanekzai; Writing by Praveen Menon; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
May the talibunny spokesman be dead!
Where’s the air support?
Probably been planned since...the withdrawal dates were publicized?
Then again, he also showed the Russkies where US ICBMs were and how many. How reckless can this President be?
Who you gonna believe, “Back-stabber Barack” or your own Israel Defense Forces?
And so it begins
I suppose the only bright spot about America falling to pieces, is the whole world is going with it.
Now that’s an insightful observation. What follows is that as the World economy collapses and institutions (such as they are), collapse as well, as governments are surrounded by angy, hungry, hopeless people, there will be a vacuum—especially in the 10-40 belt or what we term the muslim world.
Muslims are ready to take back what was once theirs, a huge empire, a caliphate that stretched from Spain and North Africa to the middle east, central asia, India and Indonesia.
Who will stop them, the murderous satan worshipping hordes of muslims thirsting to destroy their ancient foes, Jews and Christians?
No one. No one.
This time it wil be hell on earth and only the return of Jesus Christ will end the slaughter.
Or not. This could go on for years.
At present, I can see only three countries built to weather what’s coming. India, China, and Russia.
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.