Coalition forces kill 38 militants

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Coalition forces killed 38 militants in weekend clashes in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said.

The fighting occurred in the Nahr Surkh district of the province, CNN reported, quoting a U.S. military statement.

Separately, two U.S. soldiers were injured Sunday in Herat in western Afghanistan after their convoy was attacked by a suicide car bomber, the CNN report said.

In another action in Paktia province near the border with Pakistan, coalition troops and the Afghan National Police killed five militants and took 18 others into custody, the U.S. military said.

The operation had targeted al-Qaida militants in the area. Among those detained was a "significant al-Qaida associated militant," who had financed operations and helped the Taliban train and bring Arab and other foreign fighters into Afghanistan, CNN reported quoting the military.