Pitched battles reported in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Coalition and Afghan forces waged pitched battles with militants this week, leaving dozens of insurgent fighters dead, military officials said Wednesday.

Coalition troops, in conjunction with close air support, killed at least 55 militants Wednesday in the Deh Rawood district of Oruzgan province, American Forces Press Service reported. A Taliban commander, Sharif Agha, was reported to be among the dead.

Firefights also were reported in the Bala Boluk district in Farah province, where three insurgents were killed.

No coalition, Afghan or civilian casualties were reported in those engagements.

Meanwhile, three more militants were killed and two Afghan and coalition troops were wounded in a battle in the Khas Oruzgan district of Oruzgan province.

On Tuesday, coalition troops reported killing six militants and apprehending several more in Paktia, Khowst and Ghazni provinces.

Coalition forces also identified one of three militants killed in a Monday air strike in Helmand province as Taliban commander Mullah Ghafar.