Over 40 Taliban militants killed in massive operation in S. Afghanistan

19:30, 17 February 2010

LASHKAR GAH. February 17. KAZINFORM More than 40 Taliban insurgents have been killed during a massive operation in Marja district of southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, a local official said Wednesday, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

"During cleanup and searching operations in Marja and adjoining areas, more than 40 insurgents were killed," provincial governor Mohammad Gulab Mangal told a press briefing in the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah.

Three troopers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and an Afghan soldier were also killed in gun battles and roadside bombings, he added.

Operation Mustarak, or Together in Afghan national languages, entered its fifth day after being launched on Saturday morning with the involvements of more than 15,000 NATO and Afghan forces.

Some people who have left their homes and attempted to take shelter in Lashkar Gah claimed that the joint forces had not made any progress yet.

Mangal rejected the reports by saying "Operation Mushtarak is going on with some achievements, but several roadside bombs and IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) are the main barriers for movements of our forces", Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.news.xinhuanet.com for full version.

News World News