U.S. says 300 Islamic State fighters killed in Afghan operation
NEW DELHI--Afghan forces, backed by the United States, have killed an estimated 300 Islamic State fighters in an operation mounted two weeks ago, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan said on Wednesday, calling it a severe blow to the group.
General John Nicholson said the offensive in the eastern province of Nangarhar was part of U.S. operations to degrade the capabilities of Islamic State wherever it raised its head, whether in Iraq and Syria or in Afghanistan.
Nicholson, in New Delhi for talks with the Indian military which has provided training and some arms to Afghanistan, said Afghan forces supported by the United States had just carried out a counter-terrorism operation against Islamic State.
"They killed a number of top leaders of the organisation and upto 300 of their fighters," he told reporters.
"Obviously it's difficult to get an exact count, but what this amounts to is about 25 percent of the organisation at least, and so this represents a severe setback for them."
