KABUL, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Afghan troops in the northwest Badghis province have killed over two dozen Taliban insurgents, a local newspaper reported Thursday.

    "In a joint operation of Afghan and international forces launched Monday in the Bom valley of Qadis district 25 rebels had been killed until Wednesdays night," daily Arman-e-Millie reported.

    Quoting a military commander of the Afghan national army in the province Colonel Zainudin, the newspaper added that aerial bombardment had eliminated the insurgents and destroyed their hideouts.

    Six Afghan soldiers sustained injuries in the operation, the newspaper said.

    Bom is regarded as a stronghold of Taliban fighters in Badghis province where a NATO's helicopter crashed a couple of days ago and Taliban militants claimed responsibility for the incident.