GROZNY. Oct 17 (Interfax-AVN) - Nine guerillas from a unit led by Arab field commander Abu Al-Valid have been killed in Chechnya in the past 24 hours, spokesman for the regional headquarters for the anti-guerilla operation in the North Caucasus Colonel Ilya Shabalkin told Interfax on Thursday.
The operation against the guerillas is being conducted near the community of Tsentoroi in the Nozhai-Yurt district after federal forces noticed a gang numbering up to 30 people in that area, Shabalkin said. clashes, and strikes are being delivered upon the remaining dispersed units," Shabalkin said.
The rebels have lost a total of 20 people near Tsentoroi in the past few days, Shabalkin said. Federal forces have also uncovered several small guerilla gangs in the course of search operations in the past two days, he said.
"Eight pursued guerillas have been killed after they put up resistance. Four of them were killed south of the community of Komsomolskoye in the Urus-Martan district and two in the foothills south of the town of Shali. Another two guerillas were killed near the village of Gilyany in the Nozhai-Yurt district," Shabalkin said.
He also said another four operations have been carried out in the Achkhoi-Martan and Urus-Martan districts in the past 24 hours, which have also brought about noticeable results.
Shabalkin also said federal forces have found and destroyed over 200 dugouts and caches with enormous amounts of weapons, ammunition, medicines, and food since the moment when the summer operations began.
Commenting on special operations conducted in the Nozhai-Yurt district, head of the district administration Isita Gairbekova told Interfax on Thursday that the situation in the district is basically calm. Schools, state institutions, and public transport are operating in all communities. Gairbekova also said the latest armed clashes did not affected Tsentoroi, as they took place outside the village.