600 Afghan rebels slain in 11-day Soviet offensive

March 11, 1982

Soviet and Afghan troops killed 600 rebels during an 11-day offensive in January, which insurgents said was their worst defeat since the 1979 Soviet invasion.

A report issued by 100 guerrilla commanders inside Afghanistan said the operation using tanks, armored personnel carriers, MIG jets, and other heavy weapons killed nearly 200 Mujahadeen rebels in combat. Some 400 rebel ''suspects'' were executed after capture, they said. Another 700 were captured and imprisoned.

The report said Soviet and Afghan government forces suffered sizable losses of men and material.