85 killed in US-led offensive against Taliban insurgents

AFGHAN and coalition troops, pushing ahead with their largest offensive since the ousting of the Taliban five years ago, have killed about 85 suspected insurgents in targeted attacks over the past few days in southern Afghanistan.

About 10,000 US-led troops have spread out over four southern provinces as part of Operation Mountain Thrust, a counter-insurgency blitz aimed at quelling a Taliban resurgence.

An estimated 40 fighters were killed on Friday when coalition forces surprised militants as they gathered at a “known enemy camp” in Khod Valley.