Local officials of western Helmand province confirmed that at least 25 insurgents were killed in an operation carried out jointly by the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police (ANP) in the Gerishk district of Helmand province.
Two ANP officers were killed and three others severely injured in the operation. No civilian casualties were reported.
Hekmatullah Haqmal, Governor of Gerishk District, confirmed the operation and said that it was launched to preempt several terror attacks in the province that security officials had reason to believe were being planned. Governor Haqmal claimed that over 300 insurgents were planning to launch coordinated attacks in his jurisdiction.
"Over 300 insurgents aimed to launch attacks in the District. but the security forces successfully launched a clearing operation, which drove the insurgents back," said Haqmal.
The operation began on Saturday afternoon and continued through the early morning hours of Sunday.