By DPA,
Kabul : The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan abandoned a remote outpost days after militants forced their way inside it and killed nine US soldiers, the military said Wednesday.
The ISAF and Afghan forces would continue to have a strong presence in the area and would continue regular patrols around the nearby village of Wanat in the north-eastern province of Kunar, a NATO statement said.
The militants used Wanat to launch Sunday’s attack.
ISAF forces also claimed to have killed a field commander in Kandahar province during an airstrike.
“(Mullah) Mahmoud is reported to have commanded more than 250 Taliban fighters and was responsible for many insurgent operations in Kandahar province,” an ISAF statement said.
It said intelligence showed several insurgent commanders were meeting to regroup their forces and plan further attacks against the Arghandab district and Kandahar city.
“Afghan forces established observation of the area and called in an airstrike using ISAF aircraft,” the statement said.
“Our troops have the initiative in Kandahar province,” said Brigadier General Denis Thompson, Commander of Task Force Kandahar.
In Parvan province, one ISAF soldier died of unspecified non-combat causes Wednesday, the military said.
“This incident is currently under investigation,” a statement said.