Posted on 11/09/2009 7:59:18 AM PST by NormsRevenge
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) – NATO and Afghan officials claimed on Monday their forces had killed at least 130 Taliban fighters in a major operation over the past week in an area of Afghanistan's north where militant activity has surged.
A combined force of 700 Afghan troops and 50 NATO soldiers cleared villages of fighters, killing more than 130 insurgents including eight Taliban commanders during a five-day operation, NATO spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Todd Vician said.
Kunduz province governor Mohammad Omar told Reuters the combined force had killed 133 fighters during the operation, which took place in and around Kunduz's Char Dara district.
However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said only five fighters had died, and called the death toll given by NATO and Afghan officials "propaganda."
The NATO-led force deployed air strikes against armed insurgents but believed no civilians were among those killed, Vician said. No NATO or Afghan troops were killed, he added.
Kunduz province is mainly patrolled by the NATO force's German contingent, which has failed to prevent Taliban fighters from taking control of many rural villages in recent months.
Its Char Dara district was the site of the deadliest incident involving German troops since World War Two. In early September, a German officer ordered a U.S. air strike that the Afghan government says killed 30 civilians as well as 69 fighters.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Isn’t this the purpose of war? Kill the bad guys until they finally surrender? Collateral damage is part of war......have we learned nothing in two World Wars?
Kunduz was where Mike Spann was killed. I can’t believe they’re fighting over this patch of land again. This was where the Taliban were completely routed in late 2001.
Kunduz province is mainly patrolled by the NATO force's German contingent, which has failed to prevent Taliban fighters from taking control of many rural villages in recent months.
Ho hum, call me when they add a six zeros to that number.
“Hamid Shalizi, Mohammad Hamed”
Are there any studies on how overrepresented arabs have become in “journalism”?
They were already overrepresented in the ‘90s, but now it’s ridiculous.
The saudis buy media.
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