Afghan troops kill six Taliban fighters in central Oruzgan province

Afghan soldiers backed by coalition troops have killed six Taliban fighters in an attack in the central Afghanistan province of Oruzgan, according to a statement issued by coalition forces Thursday.

The operation was carried out against a "Taliban command cell" Tuesday and also led to the confiscation of materials to make homemade bombs, the statement said.

The operation was the fourth conducted in the area, which is regarded as a Taliban safe haven, within the past month by 3rd Kandak, 1st Brigade of the Afghanistan National Army's 205th Corps, the statement added.

It was not immediately clear where the operation happened in Oruzgan province, which lies southwest of the capital, Kabul.

In recent months, Taliban fighters have been stepping up attacks against Afghan and foreign forces. There are currently about 30,000 trained Afghan soldiers operating in Afghanistan, reports the AP.

I.L.