ISLAMABAD: At least 12 militants of the so-called Islamic State (IS) were killed in clearing operation and drone strikes in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, said Ministry of Defense (MoD) yesterday. A statement by Afghan MoD said that the operation launched on the outskirts of Haska Mena district of Nangarhar killed at least 12 IS militants.

The governor's spokesman, Attuallah Khogyani told media that the operation was jointly conducted by the US drone strikes and Afghan ground forces. "Two notorious commanders of the group Maulvi Abas and Abu Hanifa were also arrested in Gargarai locality of the district," he said. A weapons' depot belonging to the group was also reportedly destroyed in the operation. The security operation came at a time when Afghan security forces have paced up their offensives against IS militants to maintain law and order in the country.--KUNA