Afghan officials are claiming gains in the battle against Taliban insurgents.
A spokesman for the provincial governor of Helmand province says NATO-led airstrikes killed about 26 militants late Friday in Lashkar Gah.
The Afghan army's regional commander said Saturday another seven militants were killed during operations elsewhere in Helmand on Friday.
Earlier, Afghan officials said six civilians, including three women, were killed in a roadside bombing late Friday in the Gozara district of western Herat province.
In other violence, the U.S.-led coalition said one of its soldiers was killed Saturday in an attack on a convoy in eastern Afghanistan. The military did not give details or the location of the incident.
The attack took place a day after three other international troops were killed in two different explosions.
Friday, U.S. military officials said two U.S. troops were killed in a roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan.
And the British Defense Ministry said a British soldier was killed in an explosion while on routine patrol near Lashkar Gah in Helmand province.
Afghan and international troops have been battling a growing Taliban insurgency, particularly in southern Afghanistan.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
News
