Afghan security forces have driven the Taliban out of a key district in southern Helmand province from where they had been threatening the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry Spokesman Daulat Waziri said Monday.
Waziri said that the battle to recapture the district of Naway had been fierce. He added that more than 50 Taliban fighters were killed and five soldiers were wounded.
Government troops also captured a large cache of ammunition and guns.
Naway is located just 16 kilometres from Lashkar Gah, and had been a staging arena for militant attacks on the city.
The Taliban did not immediately comment on reports of the district’s fall.
US and Nato troops are in Helmand to assist Afghan security forces when needed.
