Kabul  - The US-led international coalition forces killed six suspected militants and detained another in an operation that targeted a network of roadside bomb makers and foreign fighters in southern Afghanistan, the military said Thursday.

The militants were killed in Day Chopan district of southern Zabul province on Wednesday after they opened fire on forces approaching their hideout, the US military said in a statement.

The prime target of the operation was a Taliban commander, who was wanted for his ties to a roadside bombing network and trafficking of foreign fighters to the region, the statement said, but did not say if the man was among those killed.

Five of the militants were killed in a small-arms fight, while the sixth was taken out by "precision airstrikes", the statement said, adding the troops protected 23 women and
31 civilians during firefight.

Unlike previous years, NATO and coalition forces, who together have more than 650,000 troops in the country, continued to engage the militants despite the cold winter weather.

The militants retreated to their rear bases inside Pakistani tribal areas during the winter months in the past six years, according to Afghan and NATO military officials.

But as they penetrated new towns and urban areas in 2008, the Taliban-led insurgents have remained in the country this winter, prompting the military commanders on the ground to expect an early spring offensive.

Taking advantage of modern technology and sophisticated intelligence gathering, the international forces have heavily targeted the Taliban hideouts, where they make roadside bombs, in the recent months.

Roadside and suicide bombings are the common tactics for the Taliban militants. They carried out around 2,000 roadside attacks in 2008. (dpa)