NATO air strikes yesterday targeted the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan in an attempt to dislodge the militia from a district they captured from government forces last week, the alliance said.
The militants seized the district of Bargi Matal in the rugged Nuristan Province on Saturday, driving out Afghan security forces after days of fierce fighting.
NATO jets bombed the troubled region in what the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said was an operation in support of its Afghan counterparts.
“ISAF supported Afghan national security force operations in Nuristan Province by delivering precision-guided air strikes on known insurgent locations near Bargi Matal early Monday,” it said in a statement.
The air strikes were requested by Afghan commanders, it said.
An ISAF spokesman said the raids had targeted “the bad guys in Bargi Matal.”
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said the raids were called in by Afghan troops ahead of an operation to recapture the district.
Meanwhile, NATO commander General Stanley McChrystal said there was “clear evidence” that some Afghan militants had trained in Iran.
McChrystal told reporters on Sunday that Iran has generally assisted the Afghan government in fighting the insurgent group.
“There is, however, clear evidence of Iranian activity — in some cases providing weaponry and training to the Taliban — that is inappropriate,” he said.
McChrystal said NATO forces are working to stop both the training and the weapons trafficking.
Last month, McChrystal said there were indications that Taliban were training in Iran, but not many and not in a way that suggested it was part of Iranian government policy. He did not give details on how many people have trained in Iran at Sunday’s news conference.
NATO reported its 50th death for last month, the deadliest month this year for US troops, with 33 deaths — two more than in February.
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