KABUL, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Afghan army has killed 14 militants and injured seven others in two provinces, the country's Defense Ministry said Friday.

Nine Taliban militants were killed and 3 injured after Afghan National Army (ANA) Air Force struck Taliban positions in Marja and Nahri Sarraj districts of restive southern Helmand province on Thursday, the ministry said in a statement.

The strikes were called in after specific intelligence information confirmed presence of scores of militants in the two districts.

In neighboring western Farah province, five Taliban militants lost their lives and four others were wounded during a cleanup operation in the province's Bala Buluk district on the same day.

The Afghan security forces, alongside U.S. and NATO-led coalition forces, have increased ground and air offensives against militants in the last few months as the militants attack government interests across the country from time to time.