At least 40 IS militants killed in Afghan air strikes

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Afghan military says its air force has hit Islamic State militants in the eastern province of Nangarhar, killing at least 40 insurgents, the Associated Press reports.

Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Dawlat Waziri says the airstrike took place late Thursday, April 14 night in Achin district and also wounded several IS fighters.

District governor Gahlib Mujahid says the airstrike targeted a meeting of IS fighters that was underway in the Pikha Lataband area, AP says.

He says most of the dead were foreign fighters and that their bodies were collected by the local villagers and handed over to the Islamic State group, which has gained a foothold in Nangarhar.

Nangarhar has seen heavy fighting between IS jihadis, many of whom are disgruntled former Taliban members weary of the insurgency's failure to overthrow the Kabul government, and rival Taliban.