35 Militants Killed in Afghanistan Clash

KABUL – The U.S. coalition is reporting another clash with militants, this time in southern Afghanistan.

In a statement, the coalition says its troops killed 35 militants and wounded another 13 after a joint Afghan-coalition patrol was ambushed in Zabul province. The patrol returned fire and called in airstrikes on the militants.

Following the clash, troops assisted the wounded militants before they were taken into Afghan custody. There were no injuries among Afghan or coalition troops.

The clash follows another battle in the eastern Paktika province early Thursday. In that battle, 34 militants, including Arabs and Pakistanis, were killed.

The violence is escalating in Afghanistan, as additional U.S. troops move into the country and try to reverse the Taliban gains of the last three years.