Afghan security force members take part in a military operation in Marja district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 18, 2019. Afghan army troops kicked off a military operation to trace militants in Marja district of southern Helmand province, the provincial governor said Thursday. (Xinhua/Abdul Aziz Safdari)
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Afghan army troops kicked off a military operation to trace militants in Marja district of southern Helmand province, the provincial governor said Thursday.
"The Afghan National Army personnel in coordination with police and national intelligence agency launched the cleanup operation in Marja early Thursday morning. They cleared 4 km radius on outskirts of the district from Taliban militants by noon," governor Yasin Khan told Xinhua.
During the operation, the militants conducted a car bombing, leaving one soldier slightly injured as the security forces were aware of the attack, the governor added.
The raid will continue until the area is cleared of militants.
Helmand province, notorious for poppy growing, is known as a Taliban stronghold.
The governor noted that military operations were also ongoing in neighboring Kajaki, Sangin, Nahri Sarraj and Garmser districts and more than 30 militants were eliminated and several others wounded since the raids started a couple of weeks ago.
