A roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province has left at least seven civilians killed and four others injured,reported Press TV.
The incident occurred when a civilian vehicle was struck by a land mine allegedly planted by Taliban fighters to target security forces, according to the Afghan Interior Ministry.
The report comes as army officials announced that Afghan soldiers have killed 48 militants during two anti-Taliban operations in Helmand and neighboring Uruzgan province this week.
Helmand -- Afghanistan's largest opium producer -- has been the scene of heavy military operations in recent weeks as security forces try to clear out insurgents' strongholds.
Taliban-linked violence has increased over the past few years and reached a new height in recent weeks, prompting US military officials to review their strategy ahead of the key presidential and provincial council elections to be held on August 20.
Nearly eight years after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the country remains turbulent with regular bombings and attacks on security forces and international troops.
There are 90,000 foreign troops -- mostly from the United States -- currently stationed in Afghanistan to battle militants and help train Afghan forces.