6 militants killed in coalition airstrike in S. Afghan province

Six Taliban militants were killed following an airstrike carried out by the NATO-led coalition forces in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, the provincial government said on Tuesday.

"A coalition jet fighter struck a Taliban bunker in Kharqo, a locality on southern outskirts of Garmsir district on Monday, killing six militants," it said in a statement.

Among the killed was a Taliban local leader named Najib Ullah alias Madad, the statement said, adding, "The air raid attack also destroyed a Taliban bunker together with weapons and ammunition."

The elimination of the targeted militants would further improve the public security in the area, the statement said.

The district has been the scene of heavy clashes between the Afghan security forces and Taliban militants over the past couple of days after Taliban militants launched massive attacks to seize the control of the remote district.

Helmand, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold. Enditem