The US led Coalition forces have killed 23 militants and detained 11 others in an operation to disrupt Taliban weapons facilitator operations in southern Afghan province of Helmand, said the Coalition in a statement released on Saturday.

The Coalition forces conducted Thursday a search of compounds in the Garmsir District for Taliban weapons facilitators indicated to be conducting a weapons transfer in the area, the statement said.

Several armed militants threatening Coalition forces were engaged and killed during the operation, it said. And 11 others were detained who intelligence sources indicated as having possible connections to Taliban weapons facilitators.

The Coalition forces also recovered several weapons with associated ammunition. All were destroyed on-site to prevent their use by extremist forces, it added.

"As a result of the Coalition forces operation, the loss of personnel, weapons and explosive material to the Taliban is a severe blow which will negatively impact their ability to equip its extremist forces and improvised explosive device operations," said Maj. Chris Belcher, a Coalition spokesman.

Over 5,600 people have been killed in violence and conflicts so far this year in Afghanistan.

(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2007)