45 militants killed in southern Afghan airstrike

About 45 Taliban militants have been killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, police said on Sunday.

"The air raid was conducted on militants' position in Choghak locality of Sangin district Saturday night, leaving 45 armed militants killed," Shah Mahmood Ashina, spokesman of provincial police department, told Xinhua.

The targeted insurgents tried to assault security checkpoints at the district in northeastern of provincial capital before came under attack, the spokesman said, adding that an unknown number of militants were wounded by the raid.

Helmand, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold.

The Taliban has intensified attacks over the past months as the militant group tries to take territory and consolidate its positions ahead of winter in the country.

The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments.

Sources: XINHUA