Nine IS fighters killed in Afghan airstrike

Nine Islamic State (IS) militants were killed when the Afghan air force struck their hideout in Kunar province, the police said on Wednesday.

"The strike took place in Gamber locality of Watapur district on Tuesday," Xinhua news agency quoted police chief Juma Gul Hemat as saying.

Among those killed in the strike were two local IS leaders Nora and Zia-ul-Haq in addition to IS weapons and cash facilitator Rahim Ullah, he said.

The mountainous province, 180 km east of Kabul, has been the scene of clashes between security forces and the IS since the emergence of the extremist group in eastern Afghan region in early 2015.

Afghan forces have beefed up security operations against militants recently as the war-weary Afghans have been witnessing a surge in attacks by Taliban and the IS across the country.

--IANS

py/vt