Taliban claim shooting down US copter in southern Afghanistan
Taliban militants have claimed responsibility for the reported downing of a military helicopter belonging to the US forces in Afghanistan’s southern province of Helmand.
The militant group said the helicopter went down in the Shawal Manda area of Nad Ali district in Helmand, the Kabul-based Watan Press newspaper reported.
Militant sources said all the American troops on board the chopper were killed.
However, the US army has reportedly denied reports that Taliban downed its copter in Afghanistan.
US media quoted an unnamed military official as saying that initial reports indicate a Resolute Support helicopter had made hard landing in Helmand, with no reports of casualties.
The US military source added that an investigation is underway into the incident.
Taliban militants have increased their acts of violence against Afghan forces and US-led forces.
Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has recently predicted a tough year ahead for Afghanistan as the Kabul government continues battling the Taliban and other militant groups across the war-torn country.
He said on March 16 during a visit to Kabul that the Taliban, al-Qaeda and Daesh terrorists will keep up their attacks across Afghanistan throughout 2016 as they try to assert their presence.
Afghan army kills 40 militants
In a separate development, the Afghan government says its forces have killed nearly 40 militants including, Takfiri Daesh terrorists, during a series of military operations in various provinces across the country’s volatile east and south.
In recent months, Daesh terrorists have been trying to expand their presence in Afghanistan’s eastern areas, particularly Nangarhar Province, recruiting local militants that defect from the main Taliban group.
Local security officials in Afghanistan have expressed concern over the security issues facing the war-torn country as the so-called fighting season with Taliban militants looms.
Each year, the season of spring and the melting of snow on the mountains along the border with Pakistan marks a significant upsurge in the fierce fighting between the Taliban and the Afghan forces.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed Taliban from power, but insecurity still remains across the country.
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