By Xinhua,
Kabul : Afghan troops backed by the US-led coalition forces have killed more than 20 militants in southern Afghan province of Helmand, a coalition statement said here Wednesday.
A combined patrol of Afghan troops and coalition forces spotted a large number of heavily armed militants gathering in small groups in Sangin district of the province Monday, the statement said.
“The joint troops engaged the militants with small arms, machine guns, and called in close air support, killing more than 10 militants,” it said.
The statement said there was no casualty among Afghan troops or coalition forces.
In another incident, coalition forces detained four militants, including a wanted insurgent, in the eastern Afghan province of Paktika Tuesday, according to the statement.
Taliban insurgents who staged a violent comeback three years ago have intensified their activities across Afghanistan over the past weeks to mount pressure.
Conflicts and spiralling insurgency have claimed the lives of over 3,000 people, mostly militants, in Afghanistan till date this year.