KABUL, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- About 37 Taliban militants have been killed as the Afghan security forces carried out military operations elsewhere within the last 24 hours, said the Defense Ministry on Tuesday.
"Afghan National Defense and Security Forces conducted offensives in order to protect lives and properties of people in countryside within the last 24 hours. As a result, 37 insurgents were killed, 14 wounded and three suspects were arrested," the ministry said in a statement.
Among the killed were eight key members of Taliban in southern Helmand province, according to the statement.
The security forces also destroyed four insurgents' strong hideouts and defused six landmines recently planted by the militants, it said.
However, the statement did not disclose if there were any casualties on the side of security forces.
The Taliban militants, who has been waging an insurgency since its regime was toppled in late 2001, have yet to make comments.
