Coalition forces reclaim southern towns from Taliban
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 | 8:58 AM ET
CBC News
Hundreds of Afghan and coalition soldiers recaptured on Wednesday the second of two southern towns that had recently been overtaken by insurgents.
Two Afghan soldiers were wounded as ground forces battled Taliban insurgents outside the Helmand provincial town of Garmser, a town of more than 50,000 which had been overrun on Sunday by insurgents.
U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick said the Afghan and coalition forces encountered rocket-propelled grenade fire outside Garmser but faced no resistance once inside the town.
The operation followed a similar attack on Tuesday in which coalition and Afghan forces rooted Taliban militants out of Naway-i-Barakzayi about 30 kilometres to the north.
"The Taliban appears to be bullying their way around some of the smaller towns in remote areas but they have no capability to lay claim to any piece of ground," Fitzpatrick said.
About 600 Canadians troops who had been fighting for days in the Sangin district of Helmand province were sent to Naway-i-Barakzayi and Garmser to help flush Taliban from the towns.
Thousands of people have left their homes to escape the escalating violence in the area.
Also on Wednesday, a coalition soldier was killed and two others were wounded in battle in the southern province of Uruzgan. The soldiers' nationalities have not yet been disclosed. The wounded soldiers are in stable condition at a coalition hospital.
E-mail warns of increased Taliban attacks
A purported Taliban statement on Wednesday promised increased attacks in the coming days.
"There will be a manifold increase in mujahedeen operations in the coming few days. The operations will be strong and severe and new fronts will be opened against the enemy," said the statement.
The email also said the Afghan police and army should seek forgiveness from the Taliban and should not work with the U.S.-led and NATO forces.
The statement was sent by e-mail to an Associated Press reporter in Pakistan by Mohammed Hanif, who often issues statements on behalf of the Taliban.
His exact ties to its leadership are unclear and the statement's authenticity could not be verified.
Canada has more than 2,000 troops stationed in southern Afghanistan. Many of those involved in fighting since last Friday were due to head home within the next few weeks, to be replaced by soldiers mainly from CFB Petawawa in Eastern Ontario who will serve under NATO command.
With files from the Associated Press
