Afghan and the U.S.-led Coalition forces have killed at least 40 militants during an ongoing operation in southern province Helmand which started Saturday, the Coalition said Sunday.

The combined force returned fire after their routine patrol which began Saturday was attacked by militants in Sangin district, the U.S.-led military said in a statement released from its headquarters at Bagram Air Filed, north of the capital Kabul.

The rebels used small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, from "multiple concealed and fortified positions," while the Afghan and Coalition force called for precision air strikes, it said.

The Coalition said at least 40 militants have been killed in the last two days, adding "over 30 enemy boats and several hand bridges" were also destroyed on the Helmand River.

The engagement is ongoing and more information will be released when available, it said.

The U.S. is leading an around 20,000 multi-national Coalition troops deployed in Afghanistan for battling insurgents.

The past two months saw increased militant attacks targeting foreign troops and Afghan government in the war-battered country. There were also several reports of huge fatalities on the insurgents over the weeks in clashes.

Over 2,000 people have been killed in Afghanistan this year.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2008)