KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan security forces backed by U.S. air strikes have retaken a southern district from the Taliban as part of a drive to weaken the insurgents’ hold on Helmand province and push them back from around its capital, Lashkar Gah, officials said on Monday. In a two-day operation launched on Saturday, the security forces took the district center of Nawa to the south of the provincial capital city of Lashkar Gah, killing more than 50 militants and destroying their vehicles and equipment, Defense Ministry spokesman, General Dawlat Waziri, was cited as saying by Reuters on Monday. It was not possible to independently verify the defence ministry's casualty figure and no comment on insurgent losses was immediately available from the Taliban.
Officials announce that Afghan security forces have retaken Nawa District from the Taliban.