Afghan and NATO-led troops eliminated 38 anti-government militants in Khost province east of Afghanistan, provincial police chief Abdul Hakim Ishaqzai said Saturday, Xinhua reported.
"The clash erupted in Musa Khil district Friday night and so far 38 Taliban rebels have been killed," Ishaqzai told Xinhua.
He said Afghan and NATO-led troops with the support of aircraft targeted Taliban hideouts.
Some 200 Taliban insurgents are involved in the battle and the troops are determined to kill and arrest the insurgents, said the official.
Meantime, locals say that five persons including three children were killed during the air strike in Musa Khil district. However, Ishaqzai rejected the claim saying neither troops nor civilians have been killed in the operation.
Taliban militants have yet to make comment.
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