Taliban Commander Among 30 Killed in Afghan Operation

Clashes in southern Afghanistan have killed at least 30 Taliban fighters, including one Taliban commander.

The Afghan Defense Ministry says the operation took place Wednesday in southern Helmand province, a region where Taliban militants are highly active.

Afghan officials say a coalition of Afghan and foreign special forces mounted coordinated attacks on insurgent cells in the Musa Qala region.

Authorities say coalition aircraft bombed militant cells during a five-hour battle. No coalition casualties were reported.

Separately, a roadside bomb in Helmand hit a British patrol, killing one soldier and wounding four others.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.