By Xinhua
Kabul : Afghan police and US led coalition forces killed more than 20 Taliban militants in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, a coalition statement said Friday.
Militants in Sangin district in the province Thursday attacked some Afghan policemen and coalition soldiers. The forces fought back and called in close air support, which dropped munitions on several Taliban fighting positions, the statement said.
"More than two dozen enemy fighters were estimated killed during the 9-hour battle," it added.
According to the statement, the coalition forces also killed several militants Thursday in Shah Wali Kot and Deh Chopan districts.
More than 2,000 people have been killed in the country since the beginning of this year due to rising Taliban-linked insurgency.