By Xinhua
Kabul : Afghan and the US-led coalition forces have killed more than 125 Taliban militants in separate gun battles in southern Afghanistan, coalition statements said Wednesday.
The joint forces confronted a large group of insurgents, preparing for an ambush, while conducting a combat patrol in Dihrawud district of Uruzgan province Tuesday night, the statement said.
More than 80 Taliban fighters fought the forces in a six-hour engagement, it said.
Coalition artillery and close air support was called in to repel the enemy reinforcements, it added.
“Precision-guided munitions were employed on positively identified Taliban positions, killing more than 65 insurgents,” according to the statement.
Three civilians were possibly injured in the crossfire, it said, adding no Afghan and coalition soldiers were wounded.
In Helmand province of south Afghanistan coalition forces killed more than 60 Taliban militants, another statement said.
One coalition soldier was also killed and four others injured in the daylong clash Tuesday, the statement added.
The combined forces were conducting a combat patrol in Musa Qala district when Taliban insurgents attacked them, the statement said.
The forces repelled the initial attack and called in close coalition air support as the militants continued to reinforce their positions, it added.
About 13,000 coalition soldiers are being deployed in Afghanistan to fight militants and keep security.
More than 4,800 people, mostly the Taliban militants, have been killed in Afghanistan this year in increased insurgency related violence.