Troops killed 34 Taliban and seized 15 tonnes of drugs during an ongoing operation in southern Afghanistan's insurgent stronghold of Helmand, the US military said on Thursday.
The joint Afghan and international action started on Tuesday in Marja, about 40 kilometres from the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, the force said in an update released to media. "A total of 34 Taliban have been killed," the statement said. "The most recent enemy deaths were caused by a series of precision air strikes during heavy fighting in the area."
The Afghan army had announced 25 deaths on Wednesday. The latest battle started when troops began to secure an area called Loy Cherah Bazaar, which the statement said was a Taliban stronghold and drugs-processing hub. They found at the bazaar two "war rooms" stocked with maps, communication equipment, Russian-made night vision goggles, US military vehicle parts and weapons, the statement said.
The troops in the Marja operation had uncovered 15,000 kg of high-grade narcotics, "a massive supply" of products used to make heroin, 40 tonnes of explosive materials and drugs packed into drums for use in suicide car bombs, the statement said. "The Afghan commandos have dealt a significant blow to the insurgents," said US military spokesman Colonel Greg Julian, adding routing a main command centre and uncovering the massive supply of drugs "hit them where it hurts the most". |