NATO planes pounded a compound in southern Afghanistan early on Wednesday in a strike against a senior Taliban commander that locals said killed several rebels and civilians. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said it believed the strike in Helmand had killed the commander, who was linked to a spike in attacks in the area including the capture of the town of Musa Qala. The building was “fully destroyed” in the 3:20am attack, ISAF said in a statement that did not mention other casualties. The strike was on an “isolated sprawling compound” between Musa Qala and Kajaki where British troops have killed several rebels in an effort to secure a major hydropower dam.
| Mullah Nizamuddin said four of his men were killed in the NATO attack which he said struck a civilianÂ’s home where they had been spending the night after having dinner. Thirteen members of their hostÂ’s family were killed including children. |
A man identifying himself as a local Taliban commander, Mullah Nizamuddin, said four of his men were killed in the NATO attack which he said struck a civilian’s home where they had been spending the night after having dinner. Thirteen members of their host’s family were killed including children, he told AFP by telephone. Nizamuddin said the strike appeared to have been targeted at himself. A village chief told AFP by telephone that more than 30 people were killed, including 20 Taliban fighters who had been spending the night in the targeted house. He said bodies were pulled from the rubble in the morning. Another villager said “some Taliban” and civilians were killed, but he could not give a number. The claims by the villagers, who did not want their names used, could not be confirmed.
Separately, a purported Taliban commander has said the militia is ready for its “biggest ever” offensive in Afghanistan this year. A man claiming to be a Taliban commander in Helmand told AFP Tuesday he had up to 10,000 men ready for action once spring arrives in March. “We will launch a very big offensive – the biggest ever seen – this spring,” Mullah Abdul Rahim told AFP in a telephone interview.