41 militants killed in clashes, airstrikes in Afghanistan
Xinhua, April 21, 2016 Adjust font size:
About 41 militants have been killed and 23 others wounded during clashes with security forces and airstrikes within the last 24 hours, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
"The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) conducted military operations against enemies in 13 of the 34 Afghan provinces in past 24 hours. The ground forces were supported by the Afghan air force and artillery. The ANSF inflicted heavy casualties on the militants. But 10 army soldiers were also martyred during the above raids," the ministry said in a statement.
Those killed included 21 Islamic State (IS) militants. Some 11 of the IS fighters also wounded after Afghan army and coalition forces launched airstrikes against an IS training center in Achin district of eastern Nangarhar province, said the statement that provides daily operational updates.
The Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations against militants recently as spring and summer known as fighting season is drawing near in the country.
The ANSF also seized weapons and defused several roadside bombs planted by the militants, the statement said.
The death also included three Taliban insurgents' local leaders named Eidi Mohammad, Mullah Khabeer and Mullah Qyyam, who had been killed after engagement with security forces in northern Badakhshan province on Wednesday.
The militants respond by bombing and armed attacks.
On Tuesday, a Taliban truck bombing and ensuing shooting against a national intelligence agency in central Kabul left 64 people dead and nearly 350 others injured. Endit