?

Afghan security forces take part in a military operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 27, 2019. Afghan forces have kicked off fresh crackdown against Taliban bastion in Sangin district of the southern Helmand province and made advances over the past couple of days, said an army statement released here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Abdul Aziz Safdari)

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces have kicked off fresh crackdown against Taliban bastion in Sangin district of the southern Helmand province and made advances over the past couple of days, said an army statement Wednesday.

Since launching the operations, the security forces have recaptured Shakar Shila area and forced militants to retreat, leaving 10 bodies behind and injuring two others, the statement added.

Sangin district has been regarded as the main hotbed of the Taliban insurgency in the restive province, the statement said, adding that expelling militants from Sangin would pave the way for expulsion of militants from the whole province.

Taliban militants have not commented.