"ISAF engaged with insurgents in three incidents in Zhari and Panjwai districts on Tuesday, killing altogether 38 of them," said Maj. Luke Knittig.

    ISAF air forces were called during the conflicts, said Knittig, adding there were no ISAF casualties.

    He also said there were "a small number of" reported civilian casualties in the air strikes, and ISAF is carrying out an investigation.

    Zhari and Panjwai districts, about 40 km west of Kandahar city, the provincial capital, is the birthplace of the fundamentalist Taliban movement and has been a stronghold of Taliban militants.

    The two districts were also the focus of a major ISAF military operation in September named Operation Medusa, during which ISAF said at least 500 Taliban insurgents were killed.

    Due to rising Taliban-linked violence this year, Afghanistan has plunged into the worst spate of bloodshed since the Taliban regime was toppled down nearly five years ago.

    Over 2,500 people, mostly Taliban militants, have been killed in this volatile country this year.

Related:

    12 Taliban militants killed in S. Afghanistan

    KABUL, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police killed 12 Taliban insurgents and injured 20 others in the southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, the provincial police chief said on Tuesday.

    Some Taliban militants attacked a police checkpoint in Garmser district on Monday, said Mohammad Nabi Mullahkhil, adding the police fought back, killing 12 enemies and injuring 20 others. Full story>>

    U.S. president reassures support to Afghanistan

    KABUL, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush has repeated White House's firm stance to assist Afghanistan on a long-term basis, an Afghan state-run newspaper reported Saturday.

    Bush in his congratulatory message to Afghan President Hamid Karzai on account of Eidul Fitr, a religious festival, said that the Untied States and allies would continue to support the war-ravaged Afghanistan. Full story>>

    Factional fighting kills 30 in W. Afghanistan

    KABUL, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- A fighting between two rival factions killed about 30 people in Shindand district of the western Herat province of Afghanistan, the provincial police chief told Xinhua on Monday.

    The conflict broke out on Sunday after some militants loyal to a local commander, Arbab Basir, ambushed a car carrying a well-known commander, Amanullah Khan, said Mohammad Ayub Salangi. Full story>>