KABUL, Afghanistan - Coalition forces killed about 40 militants in an operation in eastern Afghanistan this week, a coalition spokesman said Friday.

The insurgents were killed Wednesday and Thursday during fighting in a remote part of southeastern Paktika province, bordering Pakistan, Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick said. He said one coalition member was killed but declined to give the nationality. One enemy combatant was captured, he said.

He said the operation was to support an offensive against resurgent Taliban that began Thursday and involves 10,000 Afghan and coalition troops in four restive southern provinces.

The southern offensive is the largest since the 2001 US-led invasion that toppled the Taliban's repressive Islamic regime. - AP