Kabul: Afghan National Army and Coalition forces have killed more than 169 Taliban insurgents during two day-long battles and air strikes in volatile southern Helmand and Orozgan provinces Wednesday.
One coalition service member also died and four wounded in Helmand and three possibly noncombatants injured in Orozgan, said two statements released by US-led Coalition forces in Afghanistan.
104 Killed in Helmand
The combined force was conducting a combat patrol in the vicinity of Regay Village in an effort to clear the area of extremist Taliban. Several dozen insurgents attacked the convoy from an extensive trench system and several compounds with small-arms, machine gun, mortars and RPG fire' added the statement.
An updated statement said that killing of more than 104 insurgents is assessed thus far in the engagement.
A few days ago, Afghan officials claimed they had discovered and destroyed a unique trench system used by the Taliban insurgents in the Sangin district of the same province.
It is said that now the forces are busy to clear the Musa Qila district and destroy the insurgents' trench systems.
65 Killed in Orozgan
'The ANA-led patrol attacked the Taliban with small-arms and crew-served weapons fire. Soon after the attack against the entrenched insurgents began, the ANA observed more enemy reinforcements moving into the Taliban fighting positions. More than 80 Taliban fighters battled with ANSF forces throughout the engagement.
The insurgents continued to attack the ANA-led patrol with small-arms, machine gun, rocket propelled grenade and mortar fire from multiple bunkers in the vicinity of Kakrak village during the six-hour battle.
Coalition artillery and close air support was requested by the ground force commander to repel the enemy reinforcements. Precision-guided munitions were employed on positively identified Taliban positions; killing more than 65 insurgents' added another statement.
The Taliban's spokesmen were not available immediately for comments.
