At least 20 killed as US drones pound IS hideouts in Afghanistan

KABUL - At least 20 suspected militants of the Islamic State militant group have been killed in two separate US drone attacks in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.

Local security officials confirmed the first unmanned vehicle targeted IS fighters in Nazian district, the second attack took place in Achin district. At least 8 and 12 loyalists of the ISIS group were killed in the strikes respectively.

The Islamic State group did not confirm the drone attacks, while some locals claimed that there were no casualties in the attacks. The US officials yet remain to comment on the reports.

The drone attacks came just a week after the US air assaults in Nazian and Haska Mina districts of Nangarhar province. Over 30 fighters were killed in the drone attacks.

The US drone operation, which is mainly controlled by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), has been a major tool of US forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan to target the militant groups at inaccessible locations.