Official: 30 Suspected Taliban Killed or Wounded in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – A battle and airstrikes in southern Afghanistan left 30 suspected Taliban dead or wounded, the Ministry of Defense said Thursday.

The battle took place in the Garmser district of Helmand province on Wednesday, the world's largest poppy-growing region and site of fierce battles the last several months. One Afghan soldier was also killed in a mine explosion in neighboring Zabul province, the ministry said.

Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said officials couldn't say of the 30 exactly how many were killed or wounded. He refused to say where the Afghan soldier was killed.