JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least five Islamic State (IS) militants, including a local IS judge, were killed and seven others wounded in an operation in Khogyani district of Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar, authorities said on Wednesday.
"A joint anti-IS operation is ongoing in Khogyani. Five militants, including an IS judge named Qari Basir, were killed and seven others wounded, and two heroin factories were destroyed within the past 24 hours in the district," army Corps 201 Selab based in the region said in a statement.
About five kidnapped villages were also freed and several landmines were recovered and destroyed by the security forces over the period in Khogyani.
The statement noted that the security forces would continue to press to militants unless they renounce violence and join the peace and reconciliation process.
Since earlier this month, the security forces have been clashing with IS militants in Khogyani, southwest of provincial capital Jalalabad city. The clashes have forced hundreds of villagers to flee.
The IS group has yet to make comments on the report.
