KABUL (Reuters) -- U.S.-led and Afghan forces killed 12 Taliban militants in the southern province of Uruzgan, while militants killed 10 civilians in a nearby village, the U.S. military has said.
Violence has surged in the war-torn country with some 3,800 people killed in the conflict as of August this year, one-third of them civilians, according to the United Nations.
The combined forces were conducting a security patrol in Shahid Hasas district when they were attacked by militants with small-arms, mortar, and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire, the U.S. military said in a statement.
Afghan National Security Forces responded with small-arms, RPG, and supporting fire, killing 12 militants, it said.
U.S.-led and Afghan soldiers were informed by villagers that 10 civilians were killed by militant fire in a nearby village, it said.
"The acts committed today are acts of terrorism against innocent civilians," said Uruzgan provincial governor Assadullah Hamdam.
Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces did not report any casualties, the U.S. military said.
Violence has surged in the war-torn country with some 3,800 people killed in the conflict as of August this year, one-third of them civilians, according to the United Nations.
The combined forces were conducting a security patrol in Shahid Hasas district when they were attacked by militants with small-arms, mortar, and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire, the U.S. military said in a statement.
Afghan National Security Forces responded with small-arms, RPG, and supporting fire, killing 12 militants, it said.
U.S.-led and Afghan soldiers were informed by villagers that 10 civilians were killed by militant fire in a nearby village, it said.
"The acts committed today are acts of terrorism against innocent civilians," said Uruzgan provincial governor Assadullah Hamdam.
Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces did not report any casualties, the U.S. military said.