KABUL, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- About 20 militants have been killed amid military operations conducted by Afghan security forces since early Sunday, the country's Defense Ministry said on Monday.
"Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) launched military operations in Nangarhar, Ghazni, Paktia, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Ghor, Badghis, Farah, Faryab, Baghlan and Helmand provinces over the past 24 hours, killing 20 insurgents and wounding 19 others," the ministry said in a statement.
Among the killed were one terrorist of Haqqani militant group named Harron and one al-Qaida member, the statement added.
The ANSF supported by the army's artillery and airpower also destroyed five vehicles and three motorcycles besides safely exploding a container of explosive materials found during the above raids, said the statement that provides daily operational updates.
"The joint forces also found and destroyed weapons and ammunition as a result of the raids," it noted.
The statement also confirmed the loss of five army personnel during clashes and as a result of separate attacks across the country over the same period.
The Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations against militants since April after Taliban militants started their so-called annual spring offensive and step up attacks across the country.
The Taliban insurgent group has yet to make comments.
