The US led Coalition forces have killed 23 militants and
detained 11 others in an operation to disrupt Taliban weapons
facilitator operations in southern Afghan province of Helmand, said
the Coalition in a statement released on Saturday.
The Coalition forces conducted Thursday a search of compounds in
the Garmsir District for Taliban weapons facilitators indicated to
be conducting a weapons transfer in the area, the statement
said.
Several armed militants threatening Coalition forces were
engaged and killed during the operation, it said. And 11 others
were detained who intelligence sources indicated as having possible
connections to Taliban weapons facilitators.
The Coalition forces also recovered several weapons with
associated ammunition. All were destroyed on-site to prevent their
use by extremist forces, it added.
"As a result of the Coalition forces operation, the loss of
personnel, weapons and explosive material to the Taliban is a
severe blow which will negatively impact their ability to equip its
extremist forces and improvised explosive device operations," said
Maj. Chris Belcher, a Coalition spokesman.
Over 5,600 people have been killed in violence and conflicts so
far this year in Afghanistan.
(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2007)
