NATO Sinks Second Boat Full of Taliban Fighters - New York Times

NATO Sinks Second Boat Full of Taliban Fighters - New York Times: "KABUL, Afghanistan, June 5 — The Afghan defense ministry said that NATO helicopters attacked and sank a second boat full of Taliban fighters trying to escape across the Helmand River in southern Afghanistan. All of the 20 to 30 Taliban fighters on board were drowned, according to the spokesman, Gen. Zaher Azimi.

The boat was the second to be reported sunk in the area in three days. The first went down Saturday with about 60 people aboard; there were conflicting reports about whether they were civilians or Taliban fighters.

General Azimi said today that Taliban fighters in boat that was sunk today had fired on the NATO helicopters, and that the helicopters’ return fire destroyed the vessel.

The general said there was heavy fighting in other areas as well today. Afghan troops were ambushed in Kandahar province and called in airstrikes, reportedly hitting a group of 20 to 40 Taliban fighters. In all, two Afghan soldiers were killed and three others injured in the last 24 hours, he said." Read complete post here.