MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 28 Taliban militants have been killed in a series of airstrikes in northern province of Faryab, an army source said Monday.

The strikes were launched by U.S.-led NATO coalition forces' warplanes in Qaysar and Dawlat Abad districts on Sunday evening, Hanif Rezai, spokesman of army Corps 209 Shaheen based in the region, told Xinhua.

Among those militants killed in the strikes were two local Taliban divisional commanders named Qari Abdullah and Rahmatullah, the source added.

Afghan security forces, backed by the U.S.-led NATO coalition troops, have increased ground and air offensives against militants in the past few months as the country is preparing for parliamentary and district councils elections slated for for later this month on Oct. 20.

The militant group has yet to make comments on the report.