MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Up to 11 militants loyal to the armed Taliban group were killed, following government forces airstrikes in Afghanistan northern Faryab province on Jan. 13, an army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said on Monday.

The sorties, according to the spokesman, launched in Badghisi village of Khawja Sabzposh district on Jan. 13 afternoon, killed 11 insurgents on the spot and injuring a few others.

Air raids against militants a day earlier on Jan. 12 had also killed 20 armed militants including a Taliban key commander Qari Tajuddin in the same district Khawja Sabzposh, forcing militants to vacate their trenches in the area.

The Taliban militants fighting government forces in the troubled province haven't commented on the report.