Afghan troops have killed 75 militants over the past week in the southern Helmand province, a statement of the National Security Directorate said Saturday.

In an operation launched one week ago, the troops have cleaned up Nahri Saraj district from Taliban insurgents by killing 75 enemies including their five commanders, the statement added.

Nahri Saraj is now in the control of the government forces, it added.

There were no casualties on civilians during the operation, it said, but did not say if there were any casualties on Afghan troops.

Due to rising Taliban-linked insurgency, over 1,200 persons, mostly Taliban militants, have been killed in Afghanistan this year.

Source: Xinhua