18 rebels killed in south, centre

GHAZNI CITY/LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Eighteen insurgents have been killed and nine others injured during separate security incidents in southern Ghazni, Helmand and central Maidan Wardak provinces, officials said on Thursday.

Seven Taliban-Afghan forces operation in the Mangor area on the outskirts of Ghazni City on Thursday morning, 303^rd Selab Military Corps spokesman Maj. Nazifullah Sultani told Pajhwok Afghan News.

According to him, six militants were killed and as many injured during a separate operation in the Syedabad district of Maidan Wardak province on Wednesday night.

He said the operation codenamed “Badr-1” was launched to ensure security on the Ghazni-Maidan Wardak highway.

A resident of Ghazni City, Najibullah, said commuters felt insecurity while traveling on the highway. He called for the operation to be continued in order to keep secured the route.

A Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed and a third wounded during a clash in Syedabad district.

Elsewhere, five insurgents were killed and two others wounded during a NATO airstrike in the Greshk district of Helmand province.

The governor’s spokesman, Omar Zwak, said the airstrike targeted a corolla car carrying militants.

The Taliban have not yet commented about the incident, but the group’s spokesman, Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, claimed Afghan security forces suffered heavy casualties during latest attacks in Sangin district.

mds/ma

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