25 militants killed in Afghan airstrikes

Kabul, Aug 14 (IANS) At least 25 militants were killed as Afghan security forces targeted Taliban hideouts in Helmand province, an official statement said on Sunday.

The airstrikes pounded Taliban positions in Garmsir, Chah-e-Anjir and Nahr-e-Saraj district on Saturday night, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Taliban commander Mullah Rahmatullah is also among those killed in the air raids," the statement said.

However, the Taliban outfit in contact with the media, without confirming the airstrikes, claimed that the militants had repulsed government forces offensives in several fronts in Helmand province.

Fierce fighting continues between the Taliban and government forces in Helmand province over the past couple of months as the militant outfit has been attempting to overrun provincial capital Lashkar Gah to destabilise the neighbouring Kandahar, Zabul and Uruzgan provinces.