Afghan government troops captured 15 rebel positions in a pre-dawn assault Saturday, including a strategic mountain post southwest of the capital.
The captures put government troops within artillery range of the Taliban rebel stronghold of Maidan Shahr, 25 miles southwest of Kabul, and left the Taliban vulnerable to a ground assault.Fighting between the two sides has closed the road between Kabul and Maidan Shahr and distracted Taliban rebels from their assault in eastern Afghanistan.
Thousands of government soldiers now are trying to stem a Taliban march toward the strategically important eastern city of Sarobi.
The loss of Sarobi to the Taliban would be a serious blow to the government. Government spokesman Amrullah said government jets were bombing Taliban positions in the east and south.