Air strikes kill 25 militants in S. Afghanistan

Up to 25 militants were killed as warplanes targeted Taliban hideouts and positions in several parts of the beleaguered Helmand province in southern Afghanistan Saturday night, according to a statement of provincial government released here Sunday.

According to the statement, the air strikes pounded Taliban positions in Garmsir, Chah-e-Anjir and Nahr-e-Saraj district late last night, killing 25 Taliban insurgents including some group commanders.

"Taliban notorious commander Mullah Rahmatullah is also among those killed in the air raids," the statement added.

However, Taliban outfit in contact with media without confirming air strikes claimed that the militants had repulsed government forces offensives in several fronts in Helmand province.

Notorious for growing poppy and militancy, Helmand province with Lashkar Gah as its capital, 555 km south of Kabul, has been the scene of increasing insurgency over the past few years.

Fierce fighting has been continuing between the Taliban and government forces in several districts of Helmand province over the past couple of months as the hardliner outfit has been attempting to overrun provincial capital Lashkar Gah to destabilize the neighboring Kandahar, Zabul and Uruzgan provinces. Endit