18 insurgents killed in northern Afghanistan

MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces backed by airpower have killed 18 militants and injured 12 others in Chamtal district of Balkh province over the past 24 hours, police spokesman in the northern region Sayed Sarwar Hussaini said Wednesday.

"The security forces backed by aircrafts targeted Taliban hideouts in several villages of Chamtal district, Balkh province since Tuesday morning and so far 18 rebels have been killed, 12 others injured," Hussaini told Xinhua.

Without providing information on possible casualties of security forces, the official asserted that cleanup operations would continue until the militants are wiped out from the area.

Taliban outfit has not commented.