Afghan forces kill 25 insurgents

The Afghan army killed 25 Taliban insurgents, including two commanders, in an operation to wrest back an area of southern Afghanistan from rebel control, a general said Wednesday. Heavy fighting has dogged the insurgent stronghold and opium-producing area in Helmand province for days, with security forces saying that they killed 25 Taliban there nearly there a week ago.
Afghan troops backed by US-led forces went on the offensive in the Marja area, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, Helmand army commander General Mohaidin Ghori told AFP. "We have killed 25 Taliban including two of their commanders since yesterday (Tuesday). We have taken total control of Marja area," he said. The area was in Taliban hands for about six months, an AFP reporter said.