KABUL, Aug. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Joint operations conducted by Afghanand US forces have claimed the lives of more than 100 suspected Taliban in south and east Afghanistan over the past couple of weeks, US military spokesperson claimed Monday.

    "In the operations in the vicinity of Deh Chopan, Zabul province approximately 65 enemy combatants were killed. Over 40 enemy combatants were killed in Kunar province as Afghan and coalition forces relentlessly sought out enemy combatants, "Cindy Moore told journalists.

    Zabul and neighboring provinces of Kandahar, Helmand and Uruzgan commonly known as the heartland of Taliban has been the scene of increasing violent incidents since early this year.

    Kunar along the border with Pakistan has witnessed increasing Taliban-led insurgency since last June during which over 25 soldiers were killed.

    To root out the militants, the US and Afghan forces launched a big offensive 12 days ago in the restive Korengal valley in Kunar where hundreds of Taliban fighters have holed up.

    However, the US military spokesperson declined to disclose the US and Afghan forces' casualties by saying,"I do not have the number of US and Afghan troops killed in these operations in the east or south of the country."

    "The coalition and Afghan people share the challenge of securing Afghanistan from those enemies that would try to disrupt progress in a free and democratic nation and return to the heavy handedness of terror," she stressed.     Enditem