More than 40 militants were killed in separate conflicts in Afghanistan, Coalition forces said Saturday in a statement.

Coalition forces, who were conducting a reconnaissance patrol on Thursday in the Deh Rawod District, Uruzgan province in central Afghanistan, effectively disrupted the operations of approximately 30 insurgents who were massing outside of Cahar Cineh village.

Coalition forces attacked the extremist positions with artillery, killing 10 militants.

The remaining fighters broke contact and quickly fled the area. The Coalition patrol pursued and searched for the scattered enemy, but was unable to reestablish contact.

According to Coalition forces, there was no damage to civilian property or innocent Afghan citizens.

During shared operations elsewhere in Uruzgan, Afghan National Army (ANA) and Coalition forces spoiled an extremist attempt to set up an ambush.

Afghan and Coalition forces stormed the 10 enemy combatants, causing the insurgents to flee into a defensive stronghold nearby.

Aerial support arrived at the scene and strafed the stronghold with 30mm cannon fire, killing four extremists.

The patrol confiscated two rocket-propelled grenades, one AK-47 with five magazines and other miscellaneous military items inside the compound.

No Afghan or Coalition soldiers were injured in the skirmish.

Saturday's statement also said the ANA and Coalition forces engaged with over 60 insurgents Monday in western Arghandab District of Zabul Province, killing more than 30.

The forces fought with insurgents into the evening, forcing remaining enemies to flee.

There were no ANA or Coalition casualties, the statement said.

Source: Xinhua