SPECIAL forces troops had ''ripped the heart out'' of a powerful insurgent group in a battle in southern Afghanistan, the commander of Australian forces in the Middle East said.The battle occurred during a five-day operation in Kandahar province, where Australian commandos and Special Air Service soldiers are taking part in what the NATO-led coalition hopes will be a decisive push against insurgent strongholds over the next few weeks.
Major-General John Cantwell said the Australian troops and their Afghan counterparts had routed a group of well-trained and well-armed fighters, many of whom are believed to have trained in Pakistan. Major-General Cantwell told the Herald, ''It stands out as one of the most significant military actions our blokes have been involved in for many years,'' adding that the area was important because it was close to Kandahar, an insurgent haven, and it controlled approaches to Oruzgan province, where most of Australia's 1500 troops are stationed.