British troops kill up to 100 Taleban fighters

British troops claim to have wiped out up to 100 Taleban fighters and destroyed an enemy "regional headquarters" in Afghanistan in the Army's biggest single raid since it started policing the volatile Helmand province.

The Taleban compound, in the area of Kostay south of the town of Garmsir, was attacked during an operation lasting nearly four hours by around 100 British troops backed up by air support, the Army said in a statement today.

In what could be a significant advance for the Helmand operation, UK commanders said both buildings in the compound, which intelligence said housed between 60 and 100 Taleban fighters, were completely destroyed while no British casualties were reported.

NATO also claimed to have killed 150 Taleban fighters in a seperate battle in eastern Afghanistan, after they were spotted crossing from Pakistan.

In the British raid, which began at 3.30am today local time, troops from the Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF), part of 3 Commando Brigade, supported by the Light Dragoons, crossed the Helmand river and took up positions around the Taleban compound.

Men on the ground were supported by jets and Apache attack helicopters with twin airstikes launched against the buildings.

Both attacks were direct hits, the UK forces said, with first reports suggesting there was no collateral damage to other buildings or civilians. The troops left the scene at around 7am.