The Afghan army backed by NATO forces have killed nearly 20 militants in southern Afghanistan over the past two days, a news release of Afghan Defense Ministry said Saturday.

The Afghan National Army (ANA) backed by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) killed over a dozen rebels in Sangin district of Helmand province on Friday and still 11 bodies are lying on the ground, the news release said.

Five more enemies of peace were killed in the central Ghanzi province on Thursday, it added.

During the clashes only two Afghan soldiers, according to the news release, had sustained injuries.

Militancy and conflicts have claimed the lives of more than 1, 200 people, mostly militants, this year in Afghanistan.

Source: Xinhua