US-led coalition, Afghan forces kill militants in southern Afghanistan

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Afghan and US-led coalition forces killed several suspected Taliban militants in an operation in volatile Helmand province, the coalition said Tuesday. The joint forces searched residential compounds Monday for militants associated with Taliban extremists in the area, and for other militants helping foreign insurgents, the coalition said in a statement. During the search, militants hiding in one of the compounds opened fire on the troops, who responded with gunfire and grenades, the coalition said. It added that the joint forces killed "several" militants, but did not give a number. No civilians were killed or wounded in the violence, the statement said. It could not immediately be independently verified because the region is remote and plagued with violence.