Afhgan Air Force Strikes Killed 45 Pakistan-backed Taliban militants : gov’t

A member of the Afghan air force marshals in an A-29 Super Tucano at Hamid Karzai International Airport near Kabul, Afghanistan, January 15, 2016. Picture taken January 15, 2016. To match Special Report USA-AFGHANISTAN/PILOTS U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb/Handout via REUTERS

Thirty-three Taliban militants were killed, and 17 others wounded in Afghan Air Force (AAF) airstrikes in two provinces on last Friday using A-29 Super Tucanos, reported Reuters citing the country’s Defense Ministry. The US Air Force has donated 26 A-29 Super Tucanos to the AAF from 2016 to late 2018.

In northern Jawzjan province, 19 militants were killed and 15 wounded after warplanes targeted militants’ hideouts in Murghab and Hassan Tabbin villages on the outskirts of provincial capital Shiberghan, the ministry said in a statement.

Fourteen Taliban, including two non-Afghan militants, lost their lives and two others wounded when the air force struck their position on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, capital of southern Helmand province, according to the statement.

Three militants’ vehicles, six motorcycles, two bunkers and a big amount of their weapons and ammunition were also destroyed, the statement read.

Afghan National Army 215th Corps troops disembark an Afghan Air Force (AAF) Black Hawk helicopter during a troop re-supply at Camp Shorabak in Helmand Province July 28, 2018. Picture taken July 28, 2018. U.S. Marine Corps/1st Lt. Kathleen Kochert/Handout via REUTERS

While the U.S. and NATO troops have been leaving the Asian country, violence in the country is on the rise. To contain the situation, Afghan government security forces continue to press the militants.

Courtesy: Afghanistan Analysts Network

A defence ministry statement said air strikes were carried out across the country, including in the southern Helmand province, where the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah is being fiercely contested. The Taliban control nine of the city’s 10 police districts.

Residents in Lashkar Gah reported heavy bombing near the government radio and television station, which is under Taliban control. Several wedding halls and a guesthouse of the provincial governor’s are all located near the radio and television station.

Dr. Sher Ali Shaker, head of Helmand’s public health department said that in past 24 hours at least three civilians were killed and 40 more including women and children were wounded during battles in Lashkar Gah city.

In northern Afghanistan, the Taliban took control of most of the provincial capital of Sar-e-Pul, the head of its council, Mohammad Noor Rahmani said. In recent months, the group has gained control of dozens of districts across several provinces in the north.

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