Kabul - The US military claimed Saturday that their forces killed nine militants including al-Qaeda and Taliban commanders in two clashes in southern Afghanistan, while nearly 30 militants were detained by Afghan and foreign forces, officials said. Afghan and US-led coalition troops killed four militants, including al-Qaeda and Taliban commanders in a clash in Andar district of southern Ghazni province on Friday, a US military statement said.
"They were also believed to have been in direct contact with senior Taliban commanders to coordinate terrorist activities intended to destabilize the region," it said.
Combined Afghan and coalition soldiers on a sweep-and-clear operation killed five militants in Khakriz district of southern Kandahar province Friday, a separate US military statement said.
The militants were killed after they attacked the forces, it said, adding that four rocket-propelled grenades, one assault rifle and bomb-making materials, were discovered during the operation.
No Afghan or coalition soldiers were killed during the operations, the military said.
Kandahar province is the main hotbed for the insurgents in their fight against the Afghan and international forces. The province was the main stronghold of Taliban leader Mullah Omar, who resided there during the six years of his government.
The militants recently also penetrated Ghazni province and staged numerous attacks against troops in the region. Taliban abducted 21 South Korean citizens in the province last year, but released them after killing two hostages.
Meanwhile, Afghan national army soldiers arrested a local Taliban commander, Shayeta Gul, and 25 of his fighters in Pajwayee district of Kandahar province on Friday, the Afghan defence ministry said in a statement.
In another incident, NATO-led forces wounded three Afghan civilians in Kabul city on Friday when a weapon on one of the vehicles accidentally discharged, the alliance said in a statement.
More than 4,000 people - mostly insurgents - have been killed in Afghanistan conflict so far this year.
