Defensive attacks kill 23 militants in S. Afghanistan: government forces

Kathmandu : At least 23 Taliban militants were killed and 13 others wounded in defensive attacks by government forces in two southern provinces of Afghanistan on Sunday, the military said Monday.

In Uruzgan province, 11 militants were killed and eight wounded after intelligence reports found the militants were trying to attack Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) positions in Gizab district, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

“The ANDSF conducted a defensive attack, leaving the casualties on the side of the militants. Two motorcycle and amount of weapons and ammunition were also destroyed in the mountains region,” the statement read.

In neighboring Kandahar province, 13 militants were killed and five wounded in similar incident in Arghandab and Zharay districts, army’s 205 Attal Corps confirmed.

The statement added that a Taliban hideout along with heavy and light weapons and ammunition were destroyed during the attack.

The ANDSF has been continuing cleanup operations across Afghanistan since early last year as daily violence and clashes remain in the country. The Taliban militant group fighting the government has not responded to the reports so far.