Forces kill 5 militants in Afghanistan's southern region

QALAT, Afghanistan, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Five militants have been confirmed dead as the security forces pounded Taliban hideouts in the southern Uruzgan and its neighboring Kandahar province on Sunday, asserted an army statement released here.

The security forces backed by fighting planes struck the militants' hideouts outside Tirin Kot the capital of Uruzgan province, killing two insurgents and wounding three others, early morning, the statement added.

Similarly, the security forces targeted a Taliban hideout in Khakriz district of the neighboring Kandahar province in the wee hours of Sunday, killing three armed insurgents and destroying three motorbikes.

Taliban militants have yet to make comment.