KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, March 14 (Xinhua) -- At least nine Taliban militants, including three of their local leaders, were killed and three others wounded following an Afghan army operation in the northern Kunduz province, an official said Thursday.

The operation occurred Wednesday night in an area near Kunduz provincial capital the Kunduz city, where Afghan Army Special Force launched a targeted killing of nine militants including three of their key local commanders and three others wounded, Mohammad Hanif Rezai, the spokesman of Shaheen Army corps, said.

No security forces or civilian was harmed during the overnight operation, the spokesman added.