(AFP) - Four NATO soldiers and more than 200 insurgents have been killed in the first two days of a major anti-Taliban operation under way in southern Afghanistan.
NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) would not confirm the nationalities of the soldiers, whom the Afghan defence ministry said were Canadians, reports Trend.
"Four ISAF soldiers were killed during todays operations and seven others were wounded. Six of the seven wounded are expected to return to their duties within the next few days," ISAF said in a statement.
More than 200 Taliban fighters had also been killed since Operation Medusa was launched in the Panjwayi district of southern Kandahar province early Saturday, it said Sunday.
This figure was pulled from ISAF surveillance and reconnaissance information and reports from Afghan officials and citizens in the area, it said.
"More than 80 suspected Taliban fighters were captured by the Afghan National Police and a further 180 insurgents were seen fleeing the district," it said.
"There are no reports of civilian casualties, despite the heavy weight of fire being used."