Air raids kill 27 militants in southern Afghan province

At least 27 militants have been confirmed dead as warplanes struck Taliban hideouts and positions in parts of the restive Helmand, said an army statement released on Thursday.

The airstrikes covered parts of Nawa, Nahr-e-Saraj and Garmsir districts  on Wednesday and as a result 27 armed insurgents including two group commanders, namely Hanzala and Barakat, were killed and three others injured, said the statement.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of the poppy growing Helmand province with Lashkar Gah as its capital, 555 km south of Kabul, have not commented on the air raids.