(KUNA) -- At least 32 people were killed in a spate of violence in Afghanistan as British forces indicated they had regained control of a district from Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday. Separately four Canadian soldiers were injured in a mine blast while a suicide bomber and one civilian were killed in a bungled attack on a Canadian convoy Wednesday evening in the volatile Kandahar province.
A spokesman for the UK military said paratroopers were dropped in the Sangin district of Helmand province early Wednesday morning. The district was occupied by Taliban fighters and the Afghan police requested the UK troops to assist them. The spokesman said the British and Afghan forces were backed by apache helicopters but the insurgents vacated the area before their arrival and not a single shot was fired.
| "Take that, infidels! We bravely flee at your approach! We fearlessly vacate the premises! So there!" |
| "Curly-toed slippers not failing! Working just fine!" |
In the eastern province of Kunar, the US forces opened fire at a private vehicle carrying the personnel of government-backed tribal militia killing three of them and injuring two others. Interior Ministry's spokesman Yousuf Stanizai said the five people were traveling in a private car and were mistaken by the US soldiers for Taliban or other terrorists. Regretting the incident, the coalition forces said their soldiers inadvertently killed three un-uniformed members of the regional "Auxiliary Police" in Pech district of Kunar. Coalition's spokesman Lt Col Paul Fitzpatrick said: "We deeply regret this case of mistaken identity. Unfortunately, the police didn't properly communicate their intent or heed the signs placed before the checkpoint to proceed slowly."
| Thereby exhibiting a fatal inability to follow instructions. |
 In southern parts, where the US-led coalition forces are carrying out the massive "Operation Mountain Thrust", Afghan and coalition forces said they had killed 26 insurgents in late night and pre-dawn attacks in the southern areas. General Rahmatullah Raufi, commander of Afghan forces in the southern region, while briefing journalists, said Afghan and coalition forces attacked a Taliban hideout in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province last night. He said 20 militants were killed in the operation while the military also recovered huge quantity of weapons. He said the ground forces were supported by coalition's helicopters, which bombed hideouts of the militants.
| "Ha ha! Take that, infidels! We bravely flee at your — Aaaaaiiiieeee!" |
In Zabul province, the commander said six militants were killed and their five colleagues were captured alive.
| "Don't kill me! Please don't kill me!" |
Meanwhile, four Canadian soldiers were injured when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Shah Walikot district of the Afghanistan's volatile Kandahar province on Wednesday. Coalition's spokesman Major Innis said the wounded soldiers were shifted to the coalition medical facility at Kandahar airport, where condition of one of them was serious. In the same province, a suicide bomber and one civilian were killed and seven others wounded in a botched up attack on a Canadian military convoy Wednesday evening. Provincial government's spokesman Daud Ahmadi said the Canadian soldiers remained unhurt. |