KABUL, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan army found and defused 28 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and landmines since within a day, the Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
"The engineering units of the Afghan National Army (ANA) neutralized 28 IEDs and landmines in different places over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement.
Finding and neutralizing the home-made IEDs remain a challenge for Afghan security forces.
The Taliban militant group uses the IEDs to target security forces but the lethal weapons also inflict casualties on civilians.
More than 1,660 civilians were killed and over 3,580 others injured in conflict-related incidents in the first half of the year, according to figures released by the United Nations mission in the country.
The IED and landmine explosions are the second largest cause of civilians' casualties following ground engagements between government forces and insurgents.
