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Air strikes kill 26 rebels NE Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, Aug 9 (KUNA) -- At least 26 Taliban rebels were killed and 10 others wounded in air strikes by Afghan security forces in Afghanistanآ’s northeastern Badakhshan province, said official on Tuesday.
Provincial police spokesman, 1st Lt. Masood Arshad told media that the militants' hideouts were targeted in the airstrikes in Raghistan district of Badakhshan province leaving 26 rebels dead and 10 others wounded.
He said the air raid was part of offensive codename Kokcha launched in the district since July 27.
He further said that at least 53 insurgents had been killed and 42 others wounded since the launch of anti-rebels drive in the area. Four security personnel were also killed and six others wounded during the operation, he added.
Earlier last week, Taliban rebels cut off communication networks in the area leaving some 40,000 residents of Raghistan, Kohistan and Yawan districts without any communication facility.
The air strikes came at a time when foreign and Afghan security forces have paced up their offensives against the rebels across Afghanistan after Taliban rejected the peace dialogue offer by Afghan government. (end) sbk.bs