By Xinhua
Kabul : Afghan security forces and US led coalition troops killed about 20 Taliban militants in Kandahar province of southern Afghanistan, a coalition statement said Wednesday.
Some insurgents attacked a patrol of Afghan and coalition soldiers near Jalet Push village of Sha Wali Kot district in northern Kandahar Tuesday, the statement said.
The soldiers fought back and called for close coalition air support.
Over a dozen insurgents were killed in this engagement and one Afghan soldier was wounded, the statement added.
In a second engagement, also on Tuesday, militants ambushed a patrol of Afghan police and coalition forces near Kabolah village in Sha Wali Kot district, the statement said.
The patrol returned fire with small arms and called for air support. Six insurgents were killed and two were wounded. One coalition soldier was injured, it said.
Due to rising violence, over 4,300 persons, most of whom were Taliban militants, have been killed in Afghanistan this year.