Airstrikes kill eight militants in Afghanistan

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Sept 06 (Xinhua): Eight militants have been confirmed dead as military planes struck a gathering of Taliban militants in Charbolak district of northern Balkh district on Saturday.

Army spokesman in the northern region Hanif Rezai said Sunday.

Taliban militants were gathered in Sabzikar area of the restive district to target security checkpoints, but the security forces in pre-emptive offensive launched air raids on the gathering Saturday, killing eight insurgents on the spot, forcing them to disperse, the official said.

This is the second air attacks on the Taliban militants in northern region over the past couple of days.

In the first airstrikes, two militants were killed and a Taliban command and control center was destroyed in Qaysar district of Faryab province on Friday.