KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan special operations forces freed about 60 prisoners from a Taliban prison in a rescue mission the U.S. helped plan and for which it provided intelligence support, said Army Col. Michael Lawhorn, a spokesman for Operation Resolute Support.
The prison was located in southern Helmand province. No U.S. troops or aircraft took part in the rescue mission, Lawhorn told Military Times on Friday.
The troops carried out a helicopter assault on the prison in Nawzad district Thursday night, according to a statement from U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The Afghan defense ministry said the operation freed 60 prisoners, who were captured Afghan police, army and border police.
It was not yet clear how the prisoners were originally captured.
The original aim of the operation was to arrest a Taliban commander, the defense ministry said in a statement.
In Wardak province about 70 kilometers (40 miles) east of Kabul, eight people were killed and two wounded Friday in fighting between army troops and Taliban militants.
Hayatullah Hayat, the provincial governor, said the victims were hit by a mortar in front of a mosque in Sayed Abad district. It was not known yet whether the dead were civilians, soldiers or militants.
Deputy provincial governor Zikria Hussaini said authorities were asking village elders to provide security for their delegation so that they can carry out an investigation.
