KABUL -- Air raids carried out by the US led Coalition forces in Afghanistan's eastern Paktia province have left more than 70 suspected Taliban insurgents dead, spokesman of the provincial administration said Sunday.
"Gunship helicopters targeted militants' convoy and hideouts in Patan and Chauni areas Saturday evening, leaving 76 dead," Deen Mohammad Darwish told Xinhua.
In the first air strike that took place in Patan area close to Pakistani border, 69 insurgents were killed and two of their vehicles were destroyed, while the second raid in Chauni area close to Paktia's provincial capital Gerdez left seven insurgents dead, according to him.
Afghan troops backed by the coalition also captured 12 more persons on charge of having links with the militants, Darwish said.
Taliban fighters have yet to make comment.
Militancy and conflicts have claimed the lives of more than 5,800 people so far this year in Afghanistan.
