KABUL, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 25 militants were killed as fighting planes targeted Taliban militants' hideouts and positions in southern Helmand province on Saturday, the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
The fighting planes, according to the statement, struck Taliban militants' hideouts and positions in parts of Nad Ali and Sangin districts late on Saturday, killing 25 armed militants.
A weapon cache of the armed group had also been smashed due to the air attacks, the statement further said.
The Taliban outfit, which controls at least six districts in Helmand province with Lashkar Gah as its capital has yet to make comments.
The Afghan forces earlier claimed killing 81 militants in Kaldar and Chamtal districts of northern Balkh province on Saturday.
Fighting has intensified in Afghanistan since early May when the U.S.-led coalition forces began withdrawal from the war-torn country. Enditem
