Russia Military Assaults Tadzhikstan

Russian helicopters launched two rocket attacks Tuesday against Islamic rebels in Tajikistan in a flare-up of a civil war that has embroiled Russian troops in unusually fierce combat beyond their borders. Scores of rebels and at least 29 soldiers from a Russian-led force of border guards backing the Tajik government have been reported killed in the last five days near the border with Afghanistan.

Russian helicopters launched two rocket attacks Tuesday against Islamic rebels in Tajikistan in a flare-up of a civil war that has embroiled Russian troops in unusually fierce combat beyond their borders. Scores of rebels and at least 29 soldiers from a Russian-led force of border guards backing the Tajik government have been reported killed in the last five days near the border with Afghanistan.