Air strikes kill 60 Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan's Helmand province

Kabul: At least 60 Taliban insurgents have been killed in a series of air strikes in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, said the Afghan army on Saturday.

The insurgents were planning to launch a major attack on Sanging district.

The provincial government officials, including the provincial governor, deputy provincial intelligence chief, and the commander of 215th Corps of the Afghan Army briefed the media about the latest development during a press conference in Helmand on Saturday.

Khaama Press quoted the officials as saying that hundreds of fighters were called from other provinces and districts by the Taliban, after one their largest attack on Sangin was repulsed nearly two weeks ago.

According to the officials, the security forces were keeping a watch on the Taliban insurgents and thwarted their offensive on Sangin by killing nearly 60 of them.

So far, there has been no comment by the anti-government armed militant groups about the report.