By Xinhua,
Kabul : The Afghan National Army and the U.S.-led Coalition forces Friday killed 30 militants as their combined patrol was ambushed in Sindand district of western Afghan province Herat, the U.S.-led military said.
The patrol was en route to a Taliban commander’s compound as insurgents engaged the soldiers from multiple points within the compound using small-arms and RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) fire, the Coalition forces said in a statement.
The combined force “responded with integrated small-arms fire and an air strike,” killing 30 insurgents including Mullah Sadiq, a known Taliban commander, it said, adding that two local nationals were wounded in the crossfire.
The Coalition forces said there were no other civilian casualties.
Several militants were killed and one was detained by Coalition forces during an operation in eastern province of Kapisa Thursday, it said.
Taliban-led militants stepped up their ambushes on foreign troops over the weeks, which resulted in fierce clashes. Around 100 insurgents attacked a team of French troops on Aug. 19 in Kabul province and the ensuing nearly-day-long fighting left 10 French soldiers and around 30 militants dead.
Over 3,000 people, mostly insurgents, have been killed this year in escalating violence in the war-ravaged country.