Saudi, Greek ministers co-chair inaugural meeting of Strategic Culture Committee    Saudia Group signs deal with Airbus for flyadeal's first wide-body aircraft    Saudi non-oil exports surge 14.3 percent to SR26.11bn in February    Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 26, Palestinian officials say    Modi pledges to hunt Kashmir attackers 'to the ends of the Earth'    Trump's trade war olive branch met with derision and mistrust inside China    Ministry of Justice launches centralized court model to enhance judicial efficiency    Kyiv hit by deadly Russian missile and drone attack    Saudi Arabia elected chair of Asia region of World Meteorological Organization    Saudi Media Regulation Authority to take legal action against unregistered media practitioners    Musk to reduce Doge role after Tesla profits plunge    IMF lowers its growth forecast for Saudi economy to 3% in 2025    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Super Max Verstappen scorches to pole with record lap in Jeddah    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



At least 49 Taliban killed by Afghan forces in country's
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 23 - 03 - 2007


Fighting between Afghan and
Taliban forces in a volatile southern province has left at
least 49 militants and seven police dead in what appears to
be the biggest independent operation ever by Afghan forces,
AP quoted officials as saying Friday.
The Afghan army and police carried out a joint operation
in the Gereshk district of Helmand province Thursday
morning, but NATO-led troops were not involved in the
operations, said Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the Defense
Ministry spokesman.
Azimi on Friday said 49 Taliban bodies had been found in
total, up from a death toll he gave on Thursday of 28.
Azimi estimated the overall militant death toll at 69,
saying the Taliban had buried 10 bodies and taken 10 bodies
from the battlefield. Seven police were killed.
The troops were conducting searches on Friday following
the Thursday clash, the largest independent operation by
the fledgling Afghan security forces, Azimi said.
«They showed the capacity and capability of Afghanistan's
National Army, without the help of foreign troops,» Azimi
said.
Lt. Col. Angela Billings, a spokeswoman for NATO's
International Security Assistance Force, confirmed that
ISAF troops did not participate in the operation, which was
part of a major joint push by alliance and Afghan troops
against a rising threat from the Taliban inspired
insurgency in the country's south.
«There's more and more instances where we're stepping
back further and further as we continue with the training
of the army and police,» said Billings.
About 4,500 NATO and 1,000 Afghan forces are in and around
Helmand province as part of Operation Achilles, launched
earlier this month. Taliban militants and foreign fighters
the last several months have streamed into Helmand
province, the world's leading opium-producing region,
according to U.S. and NATO officials.
Operation Achilles has seen heavy fighting between British
forces stationed in Helmand province and Taliban militants,
but neither NATO or Afghan officials have reported any
large-scale casualties among Taliban fighters during the
operation.
Violence in Afghanistan has spiked over the last year,
with Taliban militants setting off a record number of
roadside and suicide attacks. U.S. and NATO officials have
said they expect violence to again increase this spring and
summer.


Clic here to read the story from its source.