43 militants killed in fresh Afghan cleanup operations

Afghan security forces have pressed on to clear the militants in restive provinces and killed 43 militants in the latest operations, the country's Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"Afghan army, police and personnel of intelligence agency carried out cleanup operations in Kunar, Ghazni, Zabul, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Faryab, Helmand and Farah provinces within the past 24 hours, killing 43 armed militants, wounding several and detaining nine other insurgents," the ministry said in a statement providing daily operational updates.

They also found and seized weapons and ammunition besides defusing dozens of landmines and roadside planted bombs, the statement said.

The statement also confirmed the loss of four army soldiers during clashes and separate attacks across the country over the same period.

The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments. Endit