The U.S. military in Afghanistan says U.S. and Afghan soldiers have killed at least 10 Taleban militants during hours of air strikes and ground fighting in the country's south.

The U.S.-led coalition said Friday the violence erupted Thursday in Helmand province, after about 50 Taleban insurgents ambushed a joint U.S.-Afghan patrol.

At least 10 militants have been confirmed dead, and many more are estimated to have been killed or wounded.

In a separate Taleban ambush Friday, Afghanistan's defense ministry says at least five Afghan soldiers died when militants attacked a joint NATO-Afghan convoy in the northwestern province of Badghis.

The ministry says NATO planes summoned after the ambush killed around 20 militants.

Also Friday, NATO says one British soldier was killed while on patrol in Helmand province. Another British soldier was wounded.

Some 50,000 NATO and U.S.-led coalition troops are battling a resurgent Taleban movement and helping with reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.