Airstrikes kill 20 militants in Afghanistan

Up to 20 Taliban militants were killed as aircraft targeted their hideouts in parts of the restive Helmand province Friday night, spokesman for the provincial government Omar Zawak said Saturday.

"Acting upon intelligence reports, the aircrafts targeted Taliban hideout in Khashkaba area outside provincial capital Lashkar Gah late Friday night, killing 14 rebels on the spot," Zawak told Xinhua.

Six more militants, according to the official, were killed in Marja district the same night.

Taliban militants who have been challenging the government forces in Helmand province over the past couple of years, haven't commented.