KABUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least five militants, including a Taliban shadow district chief, have been killed by airstrikes in two provinces, the command of Afghan special forces said Saturday.
In western Nimroz province, a Taliban shadow district chief Akhtar Mohammad, together with one of his associate, was killed after Afghan Air Force conducted an airstrike in Dilaram district on Friday, Afghan National Army Special Operations Corps said in a statement.
In eastern Khost province, three Taliban militants' fighters were killed after the air force launched a sortie on surrounding areas of provincial capital Khost city on the same day, according to the statement.
The Afghan security forces have recently beefed up security operations against the Taliban militants who have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions in the countryside during the winter.
The Taliban insurgent group, which has been waging an insurgency of more than 18 years, has not made a comment yet.
