Afghan: Troops kill 60 militants, seizes drugs

Kabul, May 23: In the largest ever drugs haul, troops have killed 60 militants in southern Afghanistan, the military said on Saturday, Apr 23.

The four day operation which took place in Helmand province ended in the night when air strikes destroyed 92 tonnes of drugs and masses more heroin-processing chemicals along with bomb-making materials collected in the sweep of Marja, southwest of the Lashkar Gah.

"A total of 60 militants were eliminated as they mounted an ineffective and uncoordinated defence against friendly forces," a joint US and Afghan military statement said.

The statement also read that the Afghan-led operations 'seized the single-largest drug cache'.

The statement further said that the airstrikes took place after 'friendly elements' were moved from the area which was later cordoned off too.

"The air strikes targeted specific militant buildings used as command nodes and drug-making facilities in which attacks against Afghan and coalition forces were coordinated," it said.

OneIndia News