Kabul, June 7:

A battle and airstrikes in southern Afghanistan left 30 suspected Taliban dead or wounded.

The battle took place yesterday in the Garmser district of Helmand province. Gen Mohammad Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the Defence Ministry, said officials could not say how many of the 30 reported casualties were killed or how many wounded. Elsewhere, militants attacked a government compound in the Zabul province’s Daychopan district today, killing a policeman. An Afghan soldier was also killed in a mine explosion in Zabul province.

In eastern Afghanistan, troops killed “an enemy militant” in Nangarhar province.