KABUL, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Five insurgents were killed by the U.S.-led coalition forces in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar Monday night, the coalition said Tuesday.

    "Coalition forces continued to improve security in Kunar Province late Monday by killing five terrorists after a patrol spotted seven enemy fighters maneuvering in the open west of Asadabad," the coalition said in a news release, giving no more detail about the clash.

    The coalition forces backed by Afghan troops have launched "Operation Mountain Lion," the biggest of its kind since 2001, in eastern Afghanistan last week.

    Seven Afghan civilians were killed and three were wounded during firefight between insurgents and the coalition forces in the Korangal Valley of Kunar Saturday night.

    "Our goal is to move Afghanistan into the next phase, which includes reconstruction and development," Army Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick, Combined Joint Task Force--76'spokesman, was quoted as saying in the release.

    "These incidents demonstrate the Afghan and Coalition resolve to stabilize eastern Afghanistan and defeat insurgent activity as part of Operation Mountain Lion," he added.

    The new military offensive is taking place amid Taliban's threat to speed up their activities in the spring.

    Taliban's elusive leader, who has escaped the U.S. military manhunt in the region, in a statement last month vowed to intensify attacks on Afghan and foreign troops in the spring when the weather gets warm.

    Over 200 people including 14 American soldiers have lost their lives in Taliban-linked militancy since beginning this year. Enditem