NATO and Afghan forces kill 10 insurgents in north

[January 20, 2011]  KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- NATO and Afghan forces killed more than 10 insurgents in two days of fighting in northern Afghanistan, the alliance said Thursday.

The operation in Faryab province was aimed at disrupting Taliban cells that have moved freely in the area, the statement said. The troops searched many houses without incident but were fired on from some compounds and returned fire, the statement said.

Meanwhile, insurgent attacks killed two NATO service members -- one Thursday in the north and another Wednesday in the south, the alliance said. It did not identify their nationalities or give further details.

It was not clear if the NATO death in the north was related to the fighting in Faryab.

More than 20 NATO troops have been killed in Afghanistan so far this month -- a bloody start to a year that NATO officials have said they expect to be particularly violent. NATO forces are pushing deeper into insurgent strongholds to try to undermine the strength of the Taliban enough to allow troops to start drawing down.

[Associated Press]

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