NATO airstrikes leave 20 rebels dead

KHOST CITY (PAN airstrikes in southeastern Khost province, an official said on Wednesday.

The airstrikes were conducted late on Tuesday night in Kosain and Shkhal areas of Musakhel district, an official at the 203^rd Thunder Military Crops’ media office said.

Sixteen insurgents were killed and another three wounded in the Kosain area and four insurgents were killed and six wounded in Shkhal area, he added.

The insurgents were planning to attack police posts, but police received an intelligence report about the plot and called for air support.

A witness to Shkhal airstrike, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was all of a sudden when a helicopter arrived and immediately dropped bombs, killing four Taliban insurgents.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed the airstrikes, but denied the death of any fighter. He claimed civilians were killed in both incidents.

mds/ma