Nato forces cornering Taliban guerrillas killed 50-60 fighters in artillery and air strikes and ground battles on Tuesday in a major offensive to crush a revitalised Taliban in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said. "We are closing the circle on the Taliban.
We have got the Taliban in a bit of a trap," Nato spokesman Major Quentin Innes said. Late on Tuesday, he estimated Taliban casualties at up to 60 based on observations by Nato troops on the ground.
Last weekend, Nato launched Operation Medusa, its biggest offensive against an increasingly active Taliban, in Kandahar province. The operation is focused on Panjwai district, near the capital, Kandahar city, and is being supported by air strikes.
Casualties have been high. Nato says it has killed more than 250 guerrillas, a claim the Taliban disputes. At least five Canadian soldiers have died in combat and 14 British troops were killed when their plane crashed early in the offensive.