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30 Taliban die in Afghan raid
11/07/2006 08:05 - (SA)
Kandahar - Coalition and Afghan forces killed at least 30 Taliban fighters in an air strike on a Taliban hideout in southern Afghanistan early on Tuesday, the US-led coalition said.
No Afghan or coalition forces were injured during the operation in Helmand province, coalition spokesperson Captain Julie Roberge said, but one helicopter was destroyed after a hard landing due to mechanical failure.
"In the early morning hours of July 11, Afghan and coalition forces conducted an air raid in Helmand province, in the village of Sangin, that resulted in the estimated deaths of at least 30 Taliban fighters," she said.
"The purpose of this operation was to capture or kill a Taliban commander and his close associates who have actively planned and carried out attacks on Afghan and coalition forces in the Helmand and Kandahar provinces."
Coalition forces also discovered and destroyed a large weapons cache at the site.
Upon leaving, a coalition helicopter had a mechanical malfunction and made an emergency landing.
"It was determined the helicopter could not be repaired and it was destroyed," Roberge said.
The troops launched the raid on the Sangin hideout on the basis of information obtained from recently captured Taliban militants, she said.
- SAPA
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