KABUL: A joint Afghan-U.S. special forces operation freed at least 60 Afghan prisoners from a Taliban prison in the southern Helmand province, authorities said.
The troops carried out a helicopter assault on the prison in Nawzad district, according to a statement from U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The operation freed 60 prisoners in Afghanistan.
The Afghan defense ministry also confirmed that they rescued 60 prisoners from Taliban prison. The original aim of the operation was to arrest a Taliban commander, the defense ministry said in a statement.
In Wardak province about 40 miles east of Kabul, eight people were killed and two wounded Friday in fighting between army troops and Taliban militants.
Hayatullah Hayat, the provincial governor, said the victims were hit by a mortar in front of a mosque in Sayed Abad district.
