NATO Kills 10 “Militants” Including Commander in Afghanistan

23/03/2009 | PressTV

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) occupation have killed a well-known militant member Maulawi Hassan along with his nine fellows in southern Afghan province of Helmand, said an ISAF statement issued on Monday.

"Maulawi Hassan was killed, along with nine of his associates, during an operation that targeted his compound near Kajaki, northern Helmand on March 21," the statement said.

It added that Maulawi Hassan was a senior militant figure in northern Helmand, and his influence extended into western Uruzgan.

"Maulawi Hassan answered to senior Taliban Mullah Rahmatullah who directs insurgent activity from outside Afghanistan. Mullah Rahmatullah replaced Abdhul Wali Akhund, who was killed by ISAF troops in the summer of 2008," it said.

Several weapons and IED components were also discovered during the operation.

US-led air strikes and Taliban-linked insurgency had left over 5,000 people, with some 2,000 civilians dead, in 2008 while the violence is predicted to go up in 2009 as U.S. government has announced reinforcement of occupation troops.