bobdina
04-26-2010, 12:02 PM
NATO: Airstrike Hits Taliban Cmdr, Aides
April 26, 2010
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
KABUL -- A senior Taliban commander and two of his advisers were killed by a NATO "precision airstrike" in the northern province of Kunduz Monday, the alliance said in a statement.
The targeted commander was driving with his aides through a desert nearly 30 kilometers northeast of the provincial capital Kunduz city, "when they were struck by precision air fire, killing all three," the statement said.
"The senior Taliban commander was involved in all aspects of military operations in Kunduz province," it said. "He was responsible for setting target priorities, weapons distribution and directing attacks against coalition and Afghan forces."
Kunduz and neighboring Baghlan province, the main Taliban hub in the northern region, have been the scene of fierce clashes between Taliban and Afghan and NATO troops.
Seven German soldiers were killed and more than a dozen others were injured in the past month in the two provinces. Around 4,500 German troops are stationed in northern region.
NATO-led International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) said in a separate statement Monday that eight Taliban fighters surrendered in Baghlan province on Saturday.
The militants surrendered in the same area where four German soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack on April 15.
An ongoing offensive is the largest by Afghan and NATO forces so far conducted in the northern region, which was regarded as the most peaceful region until three years ago. Around 1,000 Afghan combat troops, supported by ISAF troops from Germany, the United States, Sweden, Finland, Croatia and Belgium are taking part in the operation.
Afghan officials have warned of much larger operation in Kunduz and Baghlan provinces in coming months, unless the Taliban fighters in the region lay down their arms.
Kunduz Governor Mohammad Omar said last week that 1,200 additional U.S. troops are set to be deployed to his province, while another 3,000 U.S. forces would be stationed in northern Balkh province by summer.
Those troops would be part of 30,000 additional U.S. troops that were ordered deployed to the country in December. The total number of foreign troops is set to rise to 150,000 by autumn.
April 26, 2010
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
KABUL -- A senior Taliban commander and two of his advisers were killed by a NATO "precision airstrike" in the northern province of Kunduz Monday, the alliance said in a statement.
The targeted commander was driving with his aides through a desert nearly 30 kilometers northeast of the provincial capital Kunduz city, "when they were struck by precision air fire, killing all three," the statement said.
"The senior Taliban commander was involved in all aspects of military operations in Kunduz province," it said. "He was responsible for setting target priorities, weapons distribution and directing attacks against coalition and Afghan forces."
Kunduz and neighboring Baghlan province, the main Taliban hub in the northern region, have been the scene of fierce clashes between Taliban and Afghan and NATO troops.
Seven German soldiers were killed and more than a dozen others were injured in the past month in the two provinces. Around 4,500 German troops are stationed in northern region.
NATO-led International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) said in a separate statement Monday that eight Taliban fighters surrendered in Baghlan province on Saturday.
The militants surrendered in the same area where four German soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack on April 15.
An ongoing offensive is the largest by Afghan and NATO forces so far conducted in the northern region, which was regarded as the most peaceful region until three years ago. Around 1,000 Afghan combat troops, supported by ISAF troops from Germany, the United States, Sweden, Finland, Croatia and Belgium are taking part in the operation.
Afghan officials have warned of much larger operation in Kunduz and Baghlan provinces in coming months, unless the Taliban fighters in the region lay down their arms.
Kunduz Governor Mohammad Omar said last week that 1,200 additional U.S. troops are set to be deployed to his province, while another 3,000 U.S. forces would be stationed in northern Balkh province by summer.
Those troops would be part of 30,000 additional U.S. troops that were ordered deployed to the country in December. The total number of foreign troops is set to rise to 150,000 by autumn.