Afghanistan Times
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AT-KABUL: At least 15 militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS), also known as Daesh were killed and seven others received injuries after a US drone targeted them in the Haska Mena district of eastern Nangarhar province, a provincial official said on Sunday.
Provincial governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said the air operation took place in Paen village late Saturday. “Cache of arms belonged to the fighters were also destroyed in the attack.”
At the same time, provincial police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashreqiwal said that two Daesh militants were also killed in another drone strike in the Langari Khoar area.
Two days ago, the commander of the US-led international forces in Afghanistan General John Nicholson said that militants loyal to the Daesh in Afghanistan receive money, guidance and other support from IS leaders in Syria.
He added that the US and Afghan military have killed many IS leaders and members in recent months and that they are in fewer Afghan areas than they previously were, holding only three to four districts now compared to 10 one year ago.
Months back, after several villages in eastern Nangarhar province were cleared from presence of the Daesh militants, local tribesmen decided to torch houses of those villagers who give shelter in their houses to Daesh fighters.
Afghan security forces backed by the US airstrikes launched operations in July against main strongholds of Daesh militants in several districts of Nangarhar. After the operation, most of the areas were taken back and hundreds of the families who had been displaced, returned to their villages.
“Tribal elders of Achin district have decided that those who give shelter to Daesh fighters in their houses will pay a fine of five million Afghanis and their houses will be torched,” Attaullah Khogyanai, spokesman for Nangarhar governor said in that time. “Tribesmen also called on the villagers to help security forces.”
