OFFENSIVE

Afghan Forces Kill 13 Taliban

With the help of NATO.

Afghan coalition forces killed at least 13 Taliban insurgents late Saturday night in a planned attack in Nangarhar province. Holed up in an empty school and refusing to come out, the insurgents opened fire on Afghan troops, and fighting continued until coalition troops launched an airstrike on the building. A spokesman for the region said the Taliban were found dead inside the building, but no civilian or military casualties were reported. The fighting came as NATO turned over control of the central Bamiyan province to Afghan security forces, the first step in transitioning power before foreign troops reach their combat-operation deadline in 2014.