Five militants killed in military operation in Afghanistan

Five suspected Taliban-linked militants were killed on Sunday when they came in contact with Afghan and the U.S.-led coalition troops in the volatile Helmand province, a spokesman of the coalition forces in the southern region of Afghanistan confirmed.

"Five enemies lost their lives as they came in contact with the coalition and Afghan troops in Nawzad district of Helmand province Sunday," Major Quinten Innis told Xinhua.

He also said that there were no casualties on Afghan and coalition solders.

Helmand and the neighboring provinces of Zabul, Kandahar and Uruzgan have been the scene of increasing security incidents over the past three weeks during which some 350 people were killed.

Taliban-linked insurgency has claimed the lives of some 700 people, mostly militants, since the beginning of 2006.

Source: Xinhua