KABUL — NATO said Friday that it captured several insurgent leaders in recent days and detained at least 438 suspected militants over the past month, as three coalition soldiers were killed in southern Afghanistan.
Afghan and coalition forces also killed at least 15 insurgents in a firefight in eastern Kunar province who were trying to set up an attack position, the coalition said. It said initial reports indicated there were no injuries to civilians.
NATO said Afghan and international forces captured a senior Taliban leader based in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province Thursday. An operation called “Dragon Strike” is underway in Kandahar, the heartland of the Taliban insurgency, to clear the area of militants.
In a separate statement Friday, NATO said more than 438 suspected insurgents were detained in September, and 114 insurgents were killed. The Associated Press
