71 militants killed in fresh Afghan operations: gov't

KABUL, March 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 71 Taliban militants were killed and 34 others wounded during clashes with Afghan security forces and airstrikes throughout the country within the past 24 hours, Afghan Defense Ministry said Friday.

Out of the killed militants were 14 fighters of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, the ministry said in a statement.

An additional four militants were arrested after Afghan National Defense and Security Forces launched seven cleanup operations and 70 special operations in nine of the country's 34 provinces, the statement added.

Among the arrested militants was a French female fighter affiliated with the IS group who was arrested in Darzab district of northern Jawzjan province on Thursday, according to the statement.

Afghan National Army (ANA) Air Force also conducted 70 supportive flights and 14 airstrikes in the period.

Several militants' hideouts were destroyed and the security forces also found and seized amount of weapons and ammunition besides defusing dozens of roadside bombs and landmines, the ministry said.

Taliban and IS militant groups have yet to make comments on the report. Enditem