Nato Forces kill 44 Rebels in Afghanistan

This news updete by geo.tv
KABUL: Troops killed 44 militants in Afghanistan, officials said Saturday, as around a dozen police and soldiers were still missing following a major clash and believed to be in Taliban hands.

Thirty-three of the militants were killed in a firefight Friday in the southern province of Helmand, a Taliban stronghold where several districts are said to be in the hands of the Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents.

Afghan and US-led coalition soldiers had been on patrol about 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of Kandahar city when they came under attack, a coalition statement said.

"ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) and coalition forces returned fire primarily with small-arms fire and limited close-air support, killing 33 militants," it said.

Seven "enemies" were killed in a battle with Afghan troops in the southwestern province of Farah on Friday, the defence ministry said separately.

And coalition troops killed four Taliban, including a commander who had disguised himself as a woman by wearing a burqa to cover his face, in central Ghazni province, another statement said.

The battle between Afghan and international security forces and extremists, mainly from the Taliban, has stepped up over the past year.

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