117 militants killed in Afghanistan operations

A total of 117 militants were killed in military operations launched by Afghan security forces within the last 24 hours, the country's defence ministry said on Tuesday.

"Afghan security conducted several military operations over the past 24 hours, killing 117 militants, wounding 50 and detaining two other militants," Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.

Some 15 militants of the Islamic State (IS) were among the killed, the statement said.

Two personnel of the Afghan army were also killed over the same period, the statement confirmed.

The Taliban militants, who ruled the country before they were ousted in late 2001, renewed armed insurgency, staging ambushes and suicide attacks, killing combatants as well as civilians.

The Taliban have yet to make comments.