KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, March 24 (Xinhua) -- At least 22 Taliban militants and two security forces members were killed in separate incidents in northern Afghanistan, authorities said Wednesday.
In Kunduz province, two soldiers and six militants were killed as Afghan security forces repelled a Taliban attack on security checkpoints in Imam Sahib district early Wednesday, provincial government spokesman Esmatullah Muradi told Xinhua.
Among the killed were two members of Taliban's Red Unit, Taliban's so-called Special Forces, according to the official.
In the neighboring Balkh province, 16 Taliban militants were killed and 12 others wounded in the airstrike launched by Afghan Air Force on Taliban positions in Balkh, Chahar Bolak and Dawlat Abad districts late Tuesday, the country's Ministry of Defense said earlier in the day.
In a separate development, Taliban militants blew up a bridge in the southern Kandahar province on Wednesday, according to local police.
The bridge, built to connect Arghandab and Khakrez districts, was blew up when an explosives-packed truck was detonated, causing no casualties, Kamal Barekzay, provincial police spokesman told Xinhua.
Taliban militants have not made comments on the reports so far. Enditem
