Insurgents killed in Afghan gun battle

Afghan and coalition forces clashed with Taliban insurgents in the volatile south and called in airstrikes, killing more than a dozen suspected militants, the coalition said today.

In Helmand province, coalition forces using small-arms fire and airstrikes “killed several suspected militants” during an operation early todday in Garmsir district, a coalition statement said.

The fighting came after an estimated 40 insurgents armed with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades attacked an Afghan police and coalition patrol yesterday afternoon in nearby Musa Qala district, it said.

The joint forces repelled the attack and called in air support, killing at least a dozen militants, it said.

The coalition said there were no reports of civilians hurt in the two battles.

Helmand has been the front-line in battles between the Taliban and international forces in recent months, and has seen some of the bloodiest fighting in the past two years. It is also the largest opium-producing area in the world.