Afghan and US-led coalition forces clashed with suspected Taliban militants in southern Helmand province, killing three militants, while another rebel was killed in a separate clash in eastern region, official said on Tuesday, according to DPA. The three militants were killed in Khowaja Dar area of the province on Monday, defence ministry said in a statement. The US military also said in a statement that their forces along with Afghan troops killed several Taliban militants during a search operation in Nahr Surkh district of Helmand province on Monday. It was not clear if both the US military and Afghan defence ministry were talking about the same incident. The combined forces searched compounds targeting militants associated with Taliban extremists and foreign fighter facilitators reported to be operating in the area, the statement said. While searching area, the troops came under small-arms' fire from rebels, it said, adding the joint forces "quelled the militants' attacks, killing several in the process." The combined force also found a weapons cache consisting of several AK-47s, rocket propelled grenades and explosives, the statement added.
