More than 100 suspected militants killed in Afghanistan

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - More than 100 militants have been killed in nine different air-and-ground offensives in the past 24 hours, according to officials on Wednesday.

In a statement released to local media, the spy agency National Directorate of Security (NDS) said it conducted nine operations in as many provinces that targeted Taliban and pro-Daesh militants.

A total of 64 Taliban fighters were killed in operations in capital Kabul, Nangarhar, Logar, Paktia, Kunduz, Baghlan, Kandahar, Helmand and Herat provinces in the past 24 hours, it said.

Nangarhar province spokesman Hazrat Hussain told Anadolu Agency a U.S. drone strike had hit a suspected hideout of pro-Daesh militants, killing four of them in the Haska Maina district.

He said two Taliban fighters were also killed in a similar drone strike in Bati Kot district last night.

Up to eight Taliban fighters were also reportedly killed in another drone strike in northeastern Badakhshan province’s Raghistan district on Wednesday.

The Pashto service of BBC reported that the U.S.-Forces in Afghanistan (USFOR-A) carried out 751 similar air raids against suspected militants in Afghanistan in last month alone, a clear sign of mounting pressure on the rebels.

In southern parts of the country, officials said hundreds of Taliban fighters stormed the district administration of Mezanay in Zabul province late Tuesday.

Gul Ahmad, spokesman for Zabul governor, said air support had been called in to repulse militants that left 32 Taliban killed, including four of their commanders; more than 20 others were also wounded.

He said an Afghan soldier also died while another got wounded in clashes with Taliban.