20 More Taliban Killed, Afghan Official Says

Bombing raids by coalition aircraft killed 20 more Taliban fighters Tuesday in southern Afghanistan as a hunt for hundreds of fugitive guerrillas continued, an Afghan Defense Ministry official said.

The official, who declined to be named, said jets from the U.S.-led coalition flew at least 18 sorties over the Dai Chopan district of restive Zabol province, forcing rebels there to flee.

Afghan officials say as many as 50 Taliban fighters died Monday in the assault; the U.S. confirmed at least 14 enemy deaths.

“Except for some mountain peaks, the Taliban have been driven out completely from Dai Chopan district,” the defense official said. “Twenty Taliban fighters were killed after lunch in the bombing, and we lost only five soldiers.”