KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- At least 15 Taliban guerrillas were killed in a clash with U.S. forces in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. Central Command said on Monday.
"Fifteen anti-coalition personnel were killed by coalition aircraft in the past 24 hours. The coalition continues Operation Mountain Viper to destroy the Taliban's ability to operate in the southern region of Afghanistan," said an official U.S. announcement.
The announcement said that the official Afghan militia coordinated with the U.S. forces in the engagement in Maruf district of the Kandahar province.
Ground forces received support from the "coalition aircraft," the official note said.
"There were no reported coalition casualties or damage to equipment," it added.
Afghan officials told reporters in Kabul a senior Taliban commander, Mullah Abdur Rahim, was killed in the clash. Taliban sources, however, have denied the report saying that Mullah Rahim was still alive.
Afghan officials said the Taliban fighters, killed in the Sunday night clash, had come from the Zabul province, which borders Kandahar and is a Taliban stronghold.
Taliban guerrillas and their supporters have had several clashes with U.S. and official Afghan troops in Kabul since mid-August.
