US carries out drone strike in eastern Afghanistan
Date
1/10/2016 4:27:27 PM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) File picture for representation only
KABUL: The United States conducted adrone strike in Afghanistan last week but a spokesman declinedto confirm reports it had killed as many as 20 Islamic State(ISIS) militants in the eastern province of Nangarhar.
Although the United States ended major combat in Afghanistanat the end of 2014 it still maintains a force forcounterterrorism operations along with advice and assistance offered to Afghan police and troops fighting the Taliban.
Nangarhar has become a stronghold for radical Islamic Statemilitants fighting both Afghan government forces and the Talibanand there has been a series of drone strikes against targets in
the province.
Asked about reports of a drone attack in Nangarhar USmilitary spokesman Col. Michael Lawhorn said U.S. forces hadcarried out a "counterterrorism strike" on Friday but did notspecify a location nor estimate casualties.
"It is United States Forces Afghanistan policy not todiscuss the details of counterterrorism operations" he said.
Afghan media reported as many as 20 Islamic State militantswere killed when the drone hit a compound on Friday.
The Khaama Press news agency quoted officials as saying thestrike happened after ISIS militants beheaded seven peopleincluding six Taliban insurgents in the Achin district of theprovince.
It said the strike killed 19 militants though other reportsput the figure at 20.
Reuters