NATO reports heavy Afghanistan fighting

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 20 (UPI) -- NATO commanders Wednesday said international coalition troops continued to clash with Afghan militants in a southern insurgent stronghold.

The intense fighting had been going on for the past few days in the Marjeh region of Helmand province, an area where both militant fighters and drug traffickers have been operating, CNN reported.

The International Security Assistance Force said more U.S. troops were moving into the area and that civilians were being advised to get out of the way.

The force said airstrikes Tuesday claimed the lives of eight civilians in the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah who had been forced to act as human shields by militants.

Meanwhile, a U.S. civilian and a member of the coalition forces were killed Wednesday when a roadside bomb was detonated as their convoy traveled between Kabul and Bagram. The identities of the casualties were not immediately revealed, CNN reported.

The Afghan and coalition forces killed 18 enemy fighters Tuesday and Wednesday, the American Forces Press Service said. Fifteen suspected militants were captured.

They also confiscated significant arms and drug caches valued at $750 million in Marjeh, military officials said.

The fighting, supported by airstrikes, occurred during Afghan army efforts to secure the city's Loy Cherah Bazaar, considered a militant stronghold and narcotics processing hub for southern Afghanistan, the military officials said.

Contrary to the other reports, the press service said no Afghan military, coalition force or civilian casualties had been reported.