13 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan

At least 13 Taliban militants have been confirmed dead as Afghan forces pounded Taliban hideouts in the western Ghoon on Saturday, said an army statement released here Sunday.

According to the statement, the security forces from the ground and air stormed the militants' hideouts when they were planning to launch massive offensives at security checkpoints to capture Shahrak district of the restive province, leaving 13 insurgents died.

No security personnel and civilians had been harmed during the raids, the statement added.

Taliban militants have yet to make a comment.