2 ANA soldiers among 26 dead in Helmand clashes

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Twenty-four insurgents and two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers have been killed in string of anti-militant offensives in southern Helmand province, officials said.

Lt. Col. Muhammad Rasool Zazai, spokesman of the 215^th Maiwand military corps, told Pajhwok Afghan News that operation had been launched in parts of Paich area close to Sangin district on Friday to purge the restive locality of anti-state elements.

Seventeen rebels were killed in the offensive and their corpses were still lying in the battle ground, he added. Four Taliban were wounded in the gun battle while two others detained by the security forces in the ensuing battle, he added.

Another notorious Taliban commander, he said was killed in a showdown with the army. Five other militants were perished in a face-off with Afghan forces in Naway district.

Zazai confirmed two ANA soldiers were died and as many wounded in the clash with militants. A huge amount of weapons and motorbikes were seized by the forces after the firefight.

Another militant commander died when his own explosive he was planting went-off prematurely, he informed. However, Taliban have not yet commented on the clashes.

Separately, police during an operation in Garamsar district recovered hundreds of kilograms of hashish and detained six alleged smugglers, Brig. Gen. Juma Gul Himat, police chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

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