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Afghan raids 'kill 22 militants' Afghan raids 'kill 22 militants'
(about 6 hours later)
US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan say they have killed 22 militants in a series of clashes in the south and east of the country. US-led forces in Afghanistan say they have killed 22 militants in a series of clashes in the south and east.
The military said two Taleban commanders were killed in the fighting. The military said two Taleban commanders were killed in the fighting. There is no independent confirmation.
The main clash took place in Kapisa province, 50km (30 miles) north of Kabul, where troops killed 18 militants and a commander, it said.The main clash took place in Kapisa province, 50km (30 miles) north of Kabul, where troops killed 18 militants and a commander, it said.
The US has said it is sending up to 30,000 new troops to Afghanistan this The US has said it is sending up to 30,000 new troops to Afghanistan this year to take on a resurgent Taleban.
year to take on a resurgent Taleban.
They will join 33,000 US and 32,000 other Nato troops already in the country.They will join 33,000 US and 32,000 other Nato troops already in the country.
Obama priorityObama priority
The US military said that coalition troops had also detained at least eight suspected militants during the operations.The US military said that coalition troops had also detained at least eight suspected militants during the operations.
The military named the commander killed in Kapisa as Mullah Patang and said he worked on behalf of senior Taleban figures.The military named the commander killed in Kapisa as Mullah Patang and said he worked on behalf of senior Taleban figures.
Ground troops and air strikes were used in the operation.Ground troops and air strikes were used in the operation.
Another Taleban commander was killed in southern Kandahar province and two more militants in neighbouring Zabul province, it said.Another Taleban commander was killed in southern Kandahar province and two more militants in neighbouring Zabul province, it said.
The military did not say whether it had suffered any casualties during the clashes.The military did not say whether it had suffered any casualties during the clashes.
The news of the attacks comes just hours before the inauguration as US president of Barack Obama.The news of the attacks comes just hours before the inauguration as US president of Barack Obama.
He has made tackling al-Qaeda and Taleban militants in Afghanistan a key priority.He has made tackling al-Qaeda and Taleban militants in Afghanistan a key priority.
There has been a surge of violence in Afghanistan over the past three years.There has been a surge of violence in Afghanistan over the past three years.