Six militants die in Afghan airstrikes

KABUL, July 15 (Xinhua): At least six Taliban militants were killed during airstrikes in two southern Afghan provinces, command of Afghan Special Forces said Wednesday.

"Six Taliban militants were killed and two others wounded during airstrikes in Arghandab district of Zabul province and Maiwand district of neighboring Kandahar province," Afghan National Army Special Operations Corps (ANASOC) said in a statement.

The airstrikes were conducted to support the ground forces after the militants stormed security checkpoints, the statement added.

The statement did not provide details whether the stories were conducted by Afghan Air Force or NATO and U.S. coalition forces.

The militant group has not responded to the report so far.

Violence still lingered in the war-torn country after a peace deal was signed between the United States and Taliban in Qatar in February, which paved the way for a phased U.S. force withdrawal.