Monday, July 14, 2008
Dozens die as US jets bomb civilians
By Mushtaq Yusufzai
PESHAWAR: The Taliban in Afghanistan on Sunday claimed to have attacked a US military camp in the eastern Nuristan province, killing around 20 soldiers.
“We attacked a US military camp at Wanth area of Waigal town in Nuristan at 4 am on Sunday and killed 20 soldiers. It was a well-planned attack in which our fighters hit them with rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47 rifles,” said a caller, who introduced himself as Qari Shakir, spokesman for Sheikh Dost Mohammad, Taliban commander in Nuristan.
US military officials in Kabul confirmed the killing of nine soldiers in the attack in eastern Afghanistan. The Talibans spokesman said majority of the soldiers was sleeping and they did not face any resistance while entering the camp.
He said around 60 Taliban fighters stormed the camp and opened fire at the soldiers. He claimed three of the Taliban fighters received injuries when some of the US soldiers retaliated. Qari Shakir said information of their agents working in the camp played a key role in their successful strike.
“We were aware of their positions and the exact locations of the soldiers and ammunition,” claimed the Taliban spokesman. Later, he said, US fighter aircraft blitzed the towns in which dozens of civilians, including women and children were killed.
Also, a local journalist based in Asadabad, the provincial headquarters of neighbouring Kunar province, said one Abdul Halim, spokesman for the Nuristan governor, told Afghan reporters that 40 civilians were killed in the air strikes on Wanth, Waigal and other adjoining towns.
The Taliban spokesman said their Arab colleagues also took part in what he called an ‘important mission’. He claimed the US Army had suffered heavy losses in Nuristan province at the hands of well-organised Taliban fighting under the command of Sheikh Dost Mohammad.
