Foreign forces reportedly targeted insurgent hideouts on Monday in a border area of Paktia and killed at least 40, local officials claimed.

According to provincial police chief Abdullah Abdiyani, weapons caches were also destroyed in the operation in Chenar area of Dand Aw Patan district.

Abdiyani said according to intelligence reports received at least 40 armed insurgents were killed and several others were wounded.

“A second strike was conducted in the Nari Kotal district where at least 15 insurgents were killed and six others were wounded,” Abdiyani added.

A source claimed that among the dead in Dand Aw Patan was a Haqqani local commander, Hazrat Mohammad - known as Mutmaien.

Officials said there were no civilian casualties during the airstrikes.