Up to 30 Taliban killed in boat attack: Afghan army | International | Reuters

Up to 30 Taliban killed in boat attack: Afghan army | International | Reuters: "KABUL (Reuters) - U.S.-led coalition and Afghan forces have killed up to 30 Taliban fighters as they tried to escape on a boat from a battle in southern Afghanistan, an Afghan government spokesman said on Tuesday.

Violence has escalated in Afghanistan in recent months after the traditional winter lull, following last year's bloodiest fighting since the Taliban's ouster in 2001.

The boat came under fire from U.S. helicopters and joint ground fire on Monday in the Helmand River of Helmand province, a defence ministry spokesman said.

'The Taliban fired at the choppers and in a retaliatory attack later, between 20 and 30 Taliban were killed,' Zahir Azimi said.

At the weekend, 60 Taliban were drowned when another boat capsized in an accident in the same river, he said. Helmand province has been the scene of bloody clashes in recent months." Read complete post here.