Drone strike, clash kill 23 militants in E. Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, April 29 (KUNA) -- At least 23 fighters belonging to so-called Islamic State (IS) were eliminated as a result of a drone strike by foreign troops and a clash with rebel group in Afghanistanآ’s eastern Nangarhar province, said an official on Friday.
Provincial governorآ’s spokesman, Ataullah Khogyani told media that the unmanned aerial vehicle of the foreign troops targeted the hideout of the militants belonging to so-called Islamic State in the Narai Obah area of the Haska Mena district in Nangarhar.
He confirmed that 15 militants were killed and their weapons and ammunitions were destroyed in the airstrike. Separately, at least eight fighters of so-called Islamic State were perished during a clash with Taliban rebel group in the same area, said Khogyani.
The drone strike targeted the militantsآ’ hideout at a time when Afghan security forces are struggling to maintain the law and order situation of the country following the withdrawal of NATO/ISAF forces from Afghanistan in December 2014. (end) sbk.mt