Security operations kill 84 rebels in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, April 28 (KUNA) -- At least 84 rebels, including 45 fighters of so-called Islamic State (IS), were killed during clearing operations in 18 provinces across Afghanistan, the Afghan Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Friday.
The operations were conducted in Nangarhar, Kapisa, Laghman, Paktia, Logar, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul, Herat, Badghis, Balkh, Kunduz, Sar-i-Pul, Baghlan, Badakhshan, Takhar, Kabul and Helmand provinces, according to a MoD statement. The ministry claimed that 45 IS rebels, including the group's head of communications Qari Nafiz, were killed during airstrikes and ground operations in Achin district while nine others were killed in Haska Mina district.
The claim by the Ministry came on the day when Taliban rebels announced the launch of their spring offensive, codenamed "Operation Mansouri", warning of attacks on foreign troops and Afghan security forces across Afghanistan. (end) sbk.gb