LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 Taliban militants have been killed and three others wounded in two southern Afghan provinces, authorities said on Saturday.
In one incident, two militants were killed and three others wounded after an improvised explosive device (IED) they were planting detonated accidently in Mizan district of Zabul province Friday night, Afghan army Corps 205 Attal based in the region said in a statement.
A total of six militants were killed after NATO-led coalition forces launched an airstrike in Nikzai village, Nahri Sarraj district of Helmand province, according to a statement issued by army Corps 215 Maywand based in Helmand.
In neighboring Washer district, two militants were killed after Afghan Air Force launched a sortie following which Afghan army's ground forces found a gun and a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) from the site.
In Kim Bazar locality of Helmand's Marja district, one Taliban militant was killed after an airstrike on Friday, according to the statement.
The army personnel also found and defused four IEDs in Helmand on Friday.
Afghan security forces, backed by the U.S.-led NATO coalition troops, have increased ground and air offensives against militants within the past few months as Taliban militant group has been attempting to take territory and consolidate its positions ahead of winter in the Asian country.
