LASHKARGAH (SW): Government forces have regain control over restive Musa Qala district in the southern Helmand province, officials told SW on Thursday.
This northern district of Helmand was overrun by the Taliban a day earlier following days of intense fighting. The offices occupied by the Taliban include the District Police Headquarters, Public Hospital and the Provincial Administrations building.
Talking to SW on telephone, Shah Mahmood Ashna, Spokesman for the Provincial Police Department in the provincial capital Lashkargah said a joint operation by the Afghan and NATO forces was launched this afternoon to regain the district.
He added that the operation was still underway. Ashna asserted that the government forces have obtained full control over the state property captured by the militants a day earlier. Earlier this week, the Taliban launched a brazen attack on an Afghan National Army (ANA) check posts in the area that killed around 30 Afghan National Army (ANA) men.
Umar Zwak, Spokesman for the Provincial Governor said about the fresh clashes that tens of Taliban have been killed. He confirmed the death of 5 Afghan National Police (ANP) men. Zwak added that 10 ANP men got injured while reclaiming the district.
Separately, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said 26 armed rebels have been killed in ongoing operations across the country in the past 24 hours. The MoD said in a message that the operations were conducted in Musa Qala district of Helmand and various other districts of Ghazni, Paktiya, Uruzgan, Daikundi, Kandahar, Zabul, Badgais, Kunduz, Sar-i-Pul, Faryab, Jawzjan and Kabul provinces.
ENDS
