An Afghan Special Force member stands guard at a security checkpoint on the road leading to Nazyan district in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Nov. 4, 2018. Up to 18 militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) were killed and one of their hideouts destroyed in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar, a statement said Sunday. (Xinhua/Saifurahman Safi)

KABUL, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Up to 18 militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) were killed and one of their hideouts destroyed in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar, a statement said Sunday.

"The incident occurred on Saturday, in the restive Nazyan district of the province, where Afghan defense forces launched an air-strike killing 18 fighters affiliated with the IS," Afghan Ministry of Defense said in the statement.

The statement did not give details on whether civilians suffered life or property loss, nor the IS fighters operational in the region commented on the incident.

The mountainous province, 120 km east of Kabul, has been the scene of clashes between security forces and IS militants from time to time.

The clashes have forced thousands of villagers to flee to safer places.?