3 militants killed in Russia's Dagestan republic

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) killed three militants Saturday during a counter-terrorism operation in the country's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NAC) said.

During searches in a mountainous area, law enforcement officers found a group of bandits consisting of three men, who refused to surrender and opened fire before being killed by FSB forces, the NAC said in a press release.

At the scene of the fighting, weapons and ammunition were found, while investigation is underway, it said.

There were no civilian casualties or law enforcement officer losses.

Dagestan is a hotbed of insurgency as it is close to the conflict-ridden Middle East. Repeated violent attacks have plagued the region for years.