By Xinhua
Kabul : Over 100 militants have been killed by Afghan and the US-led coalition forces in Kandahar province of southern Afghanistan, a military statement said Wednesday.
The Taliban insurgents were killed during clashes with military forces in Sha Wali Kot district in northern Kandahar Tuesday and continued through the evening, the statement said.
The clashes broke out when an Afghan and coalition patrol was attacked by a large group of militants from reinforced fighting positions.
The joint forces used small arms and crew-served weapons to repel the attack while calling for close air support, which destroyed the enemy hilltop positions, the reinforced emplacements, sniper positions and two trucks.
One Afghan soldier was killed in the battle, while three coalition and three Afghan soldiers were injured, the statement said.
About 13,000 coalition soldiers and 37,000 NATO troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan.
Over 4,100 people, mostly Taliban guerrillas, have lost their lives in rising violence in Afghanistan this year.