54 insurgents killed, 27 hurt in Helmand offensives

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): At least 54 Taliban have been killed and 27 others wounded during airstrikes and a ground operation in southern Helmand province, local officials claimed on Monday.

Police spokesman Lt. Abdul Salam Afghan told Pajhwok Afghan News the air and ground operations were carried out in Ainak, Loykalah, and Zhawar Sahib areas of Nawa district late on Sunday night.

He said 42 militants were killed and 27 others were injured. Notorious commanders Haji Ahmad, Mullah Faizi, Saqib and Haqbeen were among the dead.

Four vehicles, 18 motorcycles, two machineguns and other ammunition belonging to the militants were also destroyed in the overnight offensive.

Omar Zwak, the governor’s spokesman, confirmed Taliban had suffered casualties in Nawa district, but had no other details.

An inhabitant of the locality, who did not want to be named, also confirmed the offensive and said militants suffered heavy casualties but he was unaware about the exact figure.

Separately, 12 insurgents were killed during an airstrike in Bolan area of the capital, Lashkargah.

Security forces and civilian suffered no casualties in the Nawa and Bolan offensives, said Afghan.

However, Qari Yousaf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, tweeted that security personnel suffered heavy casualties in Greshk and Sangin districts late on Sunday night.

Nawa had been the most secure district of Helmand in the past until it was overrun by Taliban last year and is still in their control.

sa/ma

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