Military officials in Logar province said Friday at least 32 villages were cleared of the Taliban in Mohammad Agha district during a military operation carried out by government forces this week.

The officials said 12 Taliban fighters including a key commander of the group, Khalid also known as Hanzala, were killed in the operation.

According to Logar police, the Taliban had threatened Kabul-Logar Highway by establishing strongholds in parts of Mohammad Agha district, but the threat was thwarted during the operation.

“The military operation was kicked off three days ago in 32 villages of Mohammad Agha district and all areas were fully cleared of militants,” said Ahmad Naeemzai, the police chief for Mohammad Agha district.

“Our joint military operation was launched in those parts of Mohammad Agha district where the insurgents had built strongholds and our security forces had good achievements in this crackdown,” Logar security officer Mohammad Ayub Wardak said.

He said the military operation will continue in the district.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has claimed in a statement that in this operation 11 security forces were killed and a number of them were wounded.

Mujahid also claimed that a number of weapons and equipment belonged to Afghan security forces were destroyed in the clash.