KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces killed up to 20 militants loyal to the Taliban in a series of air and ground operations in northern Kunduz province, an army spokesman in the northern region Ghulam Hazrat Karimi said on Wednesday.

According to the official, the attacks launched late Tuesday night in Imam Sahib district's Qurghan Tapa area of the province, where Afghan forces bombed militants' positions, killed 20 fighters and wounded 10 others. Karimi did not say if there were casualties on the security personnel.

However, an eyewitness on the condition of anonymity said that the ongoing fighting in the area has forced hundreds of families to flee their homes for safer places, after the armed insurgents used their houses as entrenchments against security forces.

The militants have not made comments on the situation yet.