Russia Says Over 120 Rebels Killed in ChechnyaThe Russian military said Friday that its troops in the republic of Chechnya killed more than 120 rebels and repelled several attacks on federal units on Thursday.Rocket and artillery strikes were delivered at rebel concentrations in several communities after the federal troops received intelligence reports on them, the Interfax news agency cited the press center of the Russian forces in the North Caucasus as saying. "Twenty-eight rebels were killed near Dargo, up to 50 in Elistanzhi, 21 around Selmentauzen and 19 in Khatuni," the press center said. Another 12 wounded rebels were discovered in a hospital in Shalazhi, and two of them died of their wounds in the hospital Friday morning, the press center said. Nineteen rebels surrendered to federal troops on Thursday, it added. Federal aviation carried out four combat missions in Chechnya on Thursday while Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopter gunships and Mi-26 transport helicopters made 28 flights, the headquarters of the federal force in the North Caucasus told reporters. Mi-24 helicopter gunships escorting ground forces prevented an attack on a federal convoy, killing eight rebels by air raids, said the headquarters, not naming where the battle took place. Su-25 attack aircraft delivered rocket and bomb strikes on rebel bases discovered earlier in Argun gorge and the mountainous parts of Vedeno district. Now Russian troops in Chechnya are conducting an operation against a rebel group up to 200-strong in south and southwest of Khankala, near the Chechen capital of Grozny. Judging by air reconnaissance reports, rocket and bomb strikes targeted at the group have inflicted losses on the rebels, the headquarters said. On the same day, Russian forces also dispersed a rebel group numbering up to 50 in the suburbs of Grozny and a rebel group near the town of Serzhen-Yurt, said the military. |
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