KABUL, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 32 Taliban militants were killed and 10 others wounded following airstrikes in two provinces within the past 24 hours, the Afghan Defense Ministry said Friday.

In one incident, 17 Taliban militants were killed and eight others wounded after a sortie struck a Taliban hideout in restive Bala Buluk district of western Farah province, the ministry said in a statement.

In southern Helmand province, 15 Taliban militants were killed and two others wounded after Afghan air force targeted Taliban positions on the outskirts of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah and neighboring Gereshk district, according to the statement.

Afghan security forces and the U.S.-led NATO coalition troops, have increased ground and air offensives against militants in the last few months as the militants frequently attack government interests across the country.

The Taliban militant group has yet to respond to the report.