A Nato air strike on Monday night killed at least 60 suspected Taliban, including their three commanders, and wounded dozens more in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, police said on Tuesday.
The raid took place in Zherai district of Kandahar province after the joint Afghan and Nato forces received intelligence that Taliban had gathered in two areas of the district, provincial chief Esmatullah Alizai said.
Alizai said that Mullah Abdul Manan, Mullah Zekria and Mullah Zarif were among the 60 Taliban killed in the raid, while dozens more were wounded.
He said the operation ended on Monday night and there were no casualties among Afghan forces or civilians.
Nato spokesperson Major John Thomas said the alliance could not immediately confirm the operation and said it was looking into it.
Violence has surged in Afghanistan in recent weeks after the traditional winter lull. Hundreds have been killed already this year after more than 4 000 people died last year.
Mullah Dadullah, the Taliban’s top field commander, was killed in a battle with United States-led forces at the weekend in what was seen as the most serious blow to the Taliban since the insurgency began.
Afghans have protested against the deaths of civilians in air strikes by the US-led coalition. — Sapa-dpa, Reuters