About 80 Taliban fighters were believed killed in a clash with NATO-led troops and Afghan security forces in insurgency hit southern Afghanistan at the weekend, a NATO spokesman said on Monday.
The fighting in southern Helmand province's Musa Qala district at dawn on Sunday was the heaviest since September, when local tribal chiefs had agreed to push the Taliban out of the area.
Some "70 to 80 insurgents were killed" after they attacked a NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patrol in the area, ISAF spokesman Major Luke Knittig told the agency.
The toll was an estimated number reported by military commanders in the fighting zone, located between Musa Qala and neighbouring Nawzad district, Knittig said.
He said NATO warplanes were also called in to support ground troops.
"It's an estimation. The ground commanders reported through reports from troops engaging the enemy," he said.
Afghan authorities earlier said four Taliban fighters were killed in fighting involving ISAF and Afghan security forces. It was not immediately clear if they were referring to the same battle.
Musa Qala saw some of the worst Taliban battles with Afghan and NATO led troops this year until September, when tribal chiefs agreed to not allow the Taliban in their region.
{{/usCountry}}Musa Qala saw some of the worst Taliban battles with Afghan and NATO led troops this year until September, when tribal chiefs agreed to not allow the Taliban in their region.
{{/usCountry}}In return, British troops operating under ISAF pulled their troops from the area.