Afghan air force-led strike kills 43 militants in southern province

Forty-three militants were killed after Afghan air force struck their hideout in the restive Helmand province overnight, the country's Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

"The strike was launched in Wakil locality of Marja district last night and those among the killed were several key members of Taliban militant group," the ministry said in a statement.

The strike also destroyed a big amount of weapons and ammunition in the province, 555 km south of the Afghan capital of Kabul, according to the statement.

Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations against militants recently across the country.

The Taliban has yet to make comments.