JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A total of 17 militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) group were killed as the security forces aircrafts targeted the radical outfit's positions in Haska Mina and Achin districts of the eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday, an official said Sunday.

The security forces, according to the spokesman for provincial administration Attaullah Khogiani, acting upon intelligence report, conducted sorties in parts of Haska Mina and Achin districts late Saturday night and smashed trenches and weapon caches besides killing 17 insurgents.

IS militants who have intensified subversive activities mostly in the shape of deadly suicide attacks, are yet to make comment on the report.