KABUL – Atleast 22 militants including three key commanders of the Talibanwere killed in military operations conducted by government forces indifferent provinces in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Defense said onSaturday.

The ministry said 16 airstrikes were carried out in different areas totarget insurgents’ hideouts.

At least 20 militants were wounded in the military operations, the ministrysaid.

The operations were carried out in Nangarhar, Laghman, Kapisa, Khost,Logar, Paktia, Kandahar, Zabul, Badghis, Balkh, Faryab, Badakhshan, Kunduzand Helmand provinces, the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the airstrikes targeted insurgents’ hideouts anddestroyed vehicles and weapon caches owned by militants.

The Ministry of Defense has not provided further details about the militaryoperations.