Further US offensives against Afghan fighters

US and Afghan government forces attacked an insurgent stronghold in the southern province of Uruzgan today.

US and Afghan government forces attacked an insurgent stronghold in the southern province of Uruzgan today.

"Afghan national security forces and coalition troops conducted a raid on a known extremist compound July 10, killing more than 40 extremists," the US military said in a statement.

One member of the Afghan security forces was killed and three members of the US-led coalition force were wounded in the attack on the compound, 10 kilometres north of the provincial capital, Tirin Kot, it said.

The US military said there were no reports of civilian casualties.

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US-led troops have mounted big offensives in Afghanistan's south and east over recent weeks in response to the most intense phase of Taliban violence since the hardline Islamists were ousted in 2001.

Small groups of Taliban have infiltrated across large parts the south and east and unleashed a wave of bombings, ambushes and raids as a Nato peacekeeping force prepares to take over from they US-led force in the south.

The US-led force has responded with offensives aimed at pushing back the insurgents before Nato takes over.