Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

US, Afghan Forces Kill 60 in Massive Taliban Drug Raid

By Caroline Miller,  Newser Staff

Posted May 23, 2009 9:43 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – US and Afghan forces seized a massive drug cache and and killed 60 militants in a four-day operation in Helmand province, Reuters reports. The troops scored more than 17 tons of morphine, opium, and heroin, along with 75 tons of poppy seeds, and caches of weapons and equipment, the military said. 

The initiative included air strikes on buildings used for drug making and strategic planning. Civilians had been escorted out of the area before the assault, and an unmanned aircraft was used to observe the scene "to detect any attempts by militants and criminals to change the conditions to falsely claim civilian casualties," the military said.

U.S. Marines Capt. J.R. Farris, left, and Cpl. M.A. Madding return fire from behind a primary school wall as Taliban fighters attack them.
U.S. Marines Capt. J.R. Farris, left, and Cpl. M.A. Madding return fire from behind a primary school wall as Taliban fighters attack them.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
Afghan National Army soldiers take cover behind a primary school wall and return fire as Taliban fighters attack them.
Afghan National Army soldiers take cover behind a primary school wall and return fire as Taliban fighters attack them.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
Afghan National Army soldiers take cover behind a school wall and return fire as Taliban fighters attack them in the village of Aliabad in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar province.
Afghan National Army soldiers take cover behind a school wall and return fire as Taliban fighters attack them in the village of Aliabad in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar province.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
Afghan National Army soldiers and U.S. Marine trainer Cpl. M.A. Manning run through a cloud of red from a smoke grenade.
Afghan National Army soldiers and U.S. Marine trainer Cpl. M.A. Manning run through a cloud of red from a smoke grenade.   (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Mr.C
May 25, 2009 9:11 AM CDT
^cheap shot at S. Baptists, lots of words, little information
Nwambe
May 23, 2009 3:40 AM CDT
Ms. Sharpton, The Taliban belong to a sect of Islam known as Wahhabism, a radically conservative reinterpretation of the Qur'an that shares many traits with fundamentalist Southern Baptists in the United States. Under their doctrine, the world can be split into the 'light' and the 'dark', the 'light' being areas of the world that are Wahhabi Muslim, and the 'dark' being those that are not. As a result, they feel it is their duty to spread the light to areas of darkness in the form of a battle against good and evil. In such case, they need money to fund their goals, and this is the way they choose to do it. Truly ridiculous, don't you think?
Fondue
May 23, 2009 3:05 AM CDT
I think this is the most sensible thing I've read from you. To give an answer: to me, the Taliban are just using Islam like the KKK does with Christianity.

 
Afghanistan • Taliban • heroin • opium • morphine • Helmand province

More Newser Stories

US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit New High

Backed By Pakistan, Taliban Set to Retake Afghanistan

'No Surprise' Marines Urinated on Taliban
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne