Taliban Overwhelmed by ANA, Coalition Forces in Zabul Province

COMBINED JOINT TASK FORCE- 82
COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
RELEASE # 072

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – 2nd Kandak, 205th Afghan National Army Corps and Coalition forces, interdicted Taliban fighters 50 kilometers northeast of Qalat on Highway 1, Zabul Province, in the early morning hours of April 12. The combined force identified a large group of Taliban fighters on a ridgeline near a cave site and then proceeded to destroy the enemy position – killing 16 enemy fighters with Coalition close air support.

Several enemy fighters retreated from the Coalition air strike, using motorcycles to evade advancing ANA and Coalition Soldiers. ANA and Coalition forces tracked the Taliban fighters to another cave site and requested Coalition aircraft to engage and destroy the position. As a result of the fighting, 24 enemy fighters were killed, 14 motorcycles and two cave sites were destroyed. One weapons cache was also recovered during a subsequent search of the caves.

There were no Afghan civilian injuries reported.

“Taliban fighters and other militant forces are fighting a losing battle,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force- 82 spokesperson. “The skill and persistence of ANA and Coalition Forces will triumph over the enemies of Afghanistan.”