KABUL – A total of 43 militants have been killed in military operations conducted by Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) since early Friday, the defence ministry said in a statement. “The ANSF was supported by army artillery and air force during the military and cleanup operations conducted in 17 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces over the past 24 hours. Up to 15 militants were wounded and 13 others were detained by the ANSF,” the statement read providing daily operational updates. The statement, without disclosing the nationalities of the killed saidthat six foreign militants were slayed.One Islamic State (IS) militant was killed and three others were wounded during the raids after the air force conducted an airstrike in BatiKot district in eastern Nangarhar province.The statement also confirmed loss of seven Afghan army personnel in the same period. The Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations against militants since mid-April when the Taliban started their so-called annual spring offensive Operation Omari, and step up attacks across the country.