U.S. and Afghan forces kill 43 militants

KABUL (Reuters) - U.S.-led coalition and Afghan security forces killed 43 militants during clashes in the southern Afghan province of Zabul on Sunday, the U.S. military said on Tuesday.

"ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) and coalition forces on a patrol received heavy weapons, machine gun and sniper fire from militants in multiple locations," the U.S. military said in a statement.

The combined forces responded with small arms fire, rocket propelled grenades and close air support, killing the militants, it said.

(Writing by Jonathon Burch; editing by Sanjeev Miglani)