KANDAHAR, July 15: Afghan and coalition forces said on Saturday they had killed nearly 60 rebels in major clashes with insurgents in southern Afghanistan over the past two days.

The government and US-led coalition said meanwhile they were investigating media reports of mounting civilian casualties as Afghan and coalition troops push ahead with a major anti-Taliban operation launched two months ago.

“Patrol reports and debriefings concluded that an estimated 31 enemy extremists were killed during engagements in Chora, Kala Kala, and Khorma villages,” it said.

Another 10 were killed on Saturday in an early morning air assault on “several known extremist targets” in southern Helmand province, one of the areas worst hit by a Taliban insurgency and where more than 2,300 British troops are based.

A major British operation is under way in Sangin, where a British base has come under regular attack in recent weeks.—AFP