US: Several militants killed in Afghanistan clash

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Coalition troops have killed several militants in southern Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition said Friday.

A statement Friday said the militants were involved in weapons smuggling in the Garmser district of Helmand province.

Insurgents on Thursday attacked the coalition troops, who responded with small arms fire and called in airstrikes. The troops recovered weapons and ammunition from the militants following the raid.

The U.S. Marines pushed into Garmser late last month aiming to open a route to move troops to the southern reaches of Helmand, a center of the Taliban-led insurgency.