Afghan villagers: 'Yes, we love the smell of cordite in the morning... it smells like... democracy'
Local officials in the eastern province of Paktia said 13 Taliban militants were killed in two airborne assaults in the Zurmat district of the province, situated more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of the capital city of Kabul on Saturday.
The unnamed authorities noted that two militant commanders -- identified as Abdul Rahman and Jome al-Din -- were also killed in the attacks.
The Taliban have not yet confirmed any casualties, and made no comments on the airstrike.
On Friday, at least 45 people were killed when foreign forces carried out an airstrike in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand.
The US-led forces have increased their airstrikes against civilian areas of Afghanistan in recent months.
On June 21, another US-led airstrike claimed the lives of two people in the southeastern province of Paktia.
At least ten people were killed after American forces carried out an airstrike in Afghanistan's eastern province of Logar on July 13.
On July 3, twenty people were killed and nine others injured when foreign forces launched an airstrike in the Musa Khel district of Afghanistan's eastern province of Khost.
Civilian casualties have long been a source of friction between the Afghan government and US-led forces, and have dramatically increased anti-US sentiments in the country.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror.
The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country, despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops.
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