17 insurgents killed in Afghan security operations

Seventeen insurgents have been killed in separate military operations across the country in past 24 hours, statement issued Monday morning by the Ministry of Interior states.
According to the statement the operations were jointly conducted by Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army and personnel from the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan's intelligence agency.
The statement added that the operations were conducted in Ghazni, Kandahar, Zabul, Helmand, Paktiya, Farah, Maidan Wardak and Herat provinces were eight insurgents were also wounded in the exchange of fire with security forces and two others arrested, according to the Afghan (Khaama Press).
The statement further adds that 13 different types of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were also defused by the security forces in Badakhshan, Jowzjan, Balkh, Faryab, Helmand and Kandahar province.
IEDs are considered one of the biggest causes of civilian casualties beside the ground engagements in Afghanistan.
According to a report published by UNAMA 2014 was the deadliest year for civilians mainly because of IEDs and ground engagements.
Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict shows that civilian casualties topped 10,000 in 2014. 3,699 civilians were recorded killed and 6,849 others wounded.
UNAMA report further stated that this was the highest number of civilian casualties recorded in Afghanistan since 2007 when the UN started tracking civilian casualties.