28 rebels killed in Paktia

GARDEZ (PAN insurgents killed during joint operations of Afghan and foreign troops over the past 24 hours in southeastern Paktia province, officials said on Saturday.

Fifteen insurgents were killed and three others wounded during a military operation in the Khoshi district, the 203rd Thunder Military Corps said in a statement issued from their headquarters in Gardez, the provincial capital.

Another nine rebels were detained while disguised in woman dresses during a joint search operation involving army, police and Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel in the Zazi Ayub district’s Rayano area, the statement said.

A Taliban commander identified as Abdul Rahman alias Mansoor was killed during an airstrike by US forces in the Zurmat district, where another 12 insurgents, including a commander named Juma Din alias Hamza, were killed in a separate coalition troops’ airstrike in the Shahikot area, the statement continued.

But Taliban’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the fighters killed nine Afghan army troops during the clashes in Zazi Ayub district. The troops were killed in four roadside bomb blasts and five gun attacks, he added.

He also claimed four foreign troops were killed during a direct engagement in the Mohammad Agha district of central Logar province.

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