One occupation soldier was killed and 11 were wounded during a fierce battle against Taliban July 17 in Tarin Kowt District, Oruzgan Province, says a occupation press statement issued on Monday (July 17).
While conducting offensive operations, occupation forces attacked and destroyed a truck which Taliban were loading with mortar equipment, it said, addting the attack was followed by a heavy engagement with "enemy combatants". Assessments of Taliban casualties have yet to be reported.
All Occupation casualties were medically evacuated to the hospital at Tarin Kowt.
Meanwhile the residents of Nawa Barakzai district, 20 km of Lashkargah, capital of Helmand province, have started fleeing the area after Taliban captured the district, eyewitnesses said.
The Nawa Barakzai district was captured by Taliban Mujahiddeen on Monday evening and residents of the district, fearing occupation's air strikes to recapture the district, were migrating to safer areas.
People boarding vehicles with luggage, women and children are coming to Lashkargah city from south of the province, eyewitnesses told Afghan Islamic Press from capital of Helmand province.
While quoting people who arrived in Lashkarahgah, the eyewitnesses said, "We left the area as Taliban are just 20 kilometers away from Lashkargah and the occupation aircraft may pound the area to stop Taliban from heading to the provincial capital."
Last night Taliban captured Garam Seer district of the same province.
Besides this, eyewitnesses said that more 10 people were killed on Monday bomb explosion in Lashkargah as several dead bodies and parts of human bodies were recovered from the debris of the building.
Taliban reported late night to have captured another district in Helmand province.
Taliban spokesman Qari Muhammad Yousaf phoned Afghan Islamic Press on Monday night and said, "Taliban fighters captured Nawa district in Helmand province after a brief clash with government forces in the area."
Meanwhile, Taliban also reported the capturing of Garam Seer district in the same province, however, puppet karzai representatives said that district headquarters was "transferred" and has not been captured by Taliban.
Nawa district is about 20 kilometers to south of Helmand's capital city Lashkargah.
Taliban reported killing 25 occupation and karzai soldiers in a fierce battle in Oruzghan province.
Taliban spokesman Qari Muhammad Yousaf while giving details to AIP said, "Taliban killed 25 occupation and karzai soldiers and destroyed four vehicles during a fierce battle in Sajawal area close to Terin Kot, capital of Oruzgan province."
"Three Taliban Mujahiddeen were killed and five others were also injured in the battle," spokesman added.
The foreign workers of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have started leaving the troubled Helmand province after a surge in Taliban attacks.
An Afghan worker of an NGO while talking to Afghan Islamic Press said, "All the international staff of NGOs have moved to Kandahar and there was no work in the offices despite the fact that offices were open."
He said the foreign workers of ALP/s Mercy Corps, CADG, BARAC and other NGOs have fled the Helmand province.
He said the situation worsened last night after Taliban captured Nawa Barakzai district, 20 km south of Lashkargah, capital of Helmand province and the residents started fleeing the area fearing occupation bombing.
He said earlier Taliban had captured Garam Seer district of the Helmand province, adding that the Monday's dead bomb explosion had also spread fear among the people, especially the foreign workers.
KC
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