U.S. says 60 rebels dead in Afghan clashes

By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban rebels have suffered heavy losses after launching attacks in southern Afghanistan with the U.S. military saying Thursday about 60 insurgents have been killed in two battles in recent days.

In the latest clash, Taliban insurgents ambushed a patrol in Kandahar province killing nine government soldiers in the heaviest loss for the new national army in a single incident, the Defense Ministry said.

After the ambush Wednesday, aircraft from Afghanistan's U.S.-led international force attacked the rebels, a U.S. military spokeswoman said.

'The initial report is that 20 insurgents were killed,' said Lieutenant Cindy Moore.

In an earlier battle, in neighboring Zabul province on Tuesday, 40 militants were killed in a clash with U.S. and Afghan forces, the U.S. military said"

Its hard to fight a war in Afghanistan, when a large portion of the military resources are in in Iraq.

Semper Fi