Kabul  - The US-led coalition in Afghanistan on Friday said its troops killed four suspected al-Qaeda-associated militants during an operation in the eastern province of Paktia.

A military statement released by the US forces said that the foreign fighters were killed in Paktia province on Thursday.

The operation was carried out in Zurmat district of south-eastern Paktia province.

"Coalition forces targeted an al-Qaeda-associated militant known to assist local Taliban leaders with the movement of Arabs and other foreign fighters into Afghanistan," it added.

But the statement did not identify the militants' nationalities.

"These fighters have carried out numerous suicide and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in the region," the US military statement said.

A search of the area revealed the militants were heavily armed with multiple AK-47s assault rifles, rocket propelled grenades, hand grenades and pistols. These items were destroyed to prevent future use, it said. (dpa)