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5 troops killed in Afghan bomb attacks

Xinhua, March 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Five Afghan army soldiers have lost their lives in separate bomb attacks within a day, the country's Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"Over the past 24 hours, five personnel of the Afghan National Army martyred in roadside bomb and landmine blasts throughout the country," the ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, 11 militants have been killed and 14 others wounded during army cleanup operations and clashes during the same period, the statement added.

The army specialists have found and defused 109 bombs and landmines across the country since early Sunday, according to the statement.

The Afghan soldiers and police casualties have risen recently as the United States and NATO troops in Afghanistan have switched from combat to support role, including training, advising and assisting Afghan forces since Jan. 1 this year. Endi