Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Taliban Fighters in Helmand Province
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2007 – Afghan national security forces and
coalition forces engaged and killed several Taliban fighters near the
Nahr Surkh district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province yesterday.
The combined force was conducting a reconnaissance patrol near the
district when a significant number of insurgents engaged friendly
elements with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms
fire. The combined force immediately engaged the Taliban fighters with
small-arms fire and close-air support, killing many of the insurgents.
"The
Taliban is desperate for a success, but at every turn (Afghan national
security forces) and coalition forces have successfully stopped them,"
said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman.
In other news, Afghan and coalition forces have refuted Taliban
claims of control of the Tarin Kowt-Kandahar road, a major road used
for transporting commerce between Kandahar and Oruzgan provinces.
The
Taliban claimed Nov. 6 that they had taken control of the road. In
response, Afghan and coalition forces quickly launched a mission to
secure the road. Once the combined force arrived, they discovered
traffic was flowing and that the Taliban's claims were false. Afghan
forces are providing security for the route and remain in control of
this ground line of communication.
"In the absence of any
military success, the Taliban routinely rely on false reports in a vain
attempt to deceive the Afghan people," Belcher said.
(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)