Afghanistan: Militants killed, coalition troops wounded in attacks

Multiple attacks in southern Afghanistan killed six militants and left seven coalition troops and an Afghan soldier wounded, the military said today.

Heavy fighting broke last night in southern Zabul province’s Shahjoy district after coalition forces came under attack by small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, said coalition spokeswoman Captain Julie Roberge.

Five coalition soldiers were wounded, Roberge said, declining to disclose their nationalities. A suspected Taliban militant was killed, she said.

In the Panjwayi district of neighbouring Kandahar province, coalition forces fought off several fighters, killing an estimated five Taliban militants and wounding one, Roberge said.

Four other suspected Taliban insurgents were detained, and two coalition soldiers and an Afghan solider were also wounded in the fighting, she said.

More than 10,000 Afghan and coalition troops are deployed across southern Afghanistan in a major military campaign to flush out resurgent Taliban forces.