KABUL, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan security forces killed 18 militants and arrested 10 suspected militants during operations in 11 of the country's 34 provinces within the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Defense said on Monday.

Six militants were wounded during 14 cleanup operations conducted by Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, while one compound used by Taliban militants for making improvised explosive devices (IED), and one explosive materials' depot were also destroyed, the ministry said in a statement.

The Afghan army in coordination with police and national intelligence agency personnel also seized two vehicles, a motorcycles and some weapons during the above operations, the statement added.

The Afghan Air Force conducted eight airstrikes against the Taliban positions over the same period, the statement noted.

The engineering teams of army also found and defused 10 IEDs and roadside bombs since early Sunday.

Taliban militants, who ruled the country before being ousted in late 2001, renewed armed insurgency, killing government troops as well as civilians.

They frequently attack district offices, military camps, installations and security checkpoints, while the Afghan military respond with airstrikes on militant targets in the countryside.

The militant group has not commented on the report so far.