The local officials in southern Helmand province are saying that a coalition airstrike has left at least five Taliban militants dead, including a local leader of the group Mullah Sher Agha.

The provincial government media office in a statement said the coalition forces carried out an airstrike against the compound of the Taliban militants in Sangin district at around 11pm local time on Friday.

The statement further added that the airstrike left five militants including a local leader of the group identiied as Mullah Sher Agha.

Mullah Sher Agha was one of the close relatives of Mullah Abdul Manan Niazi who was killed in a similar airstrike in Nawzad district nearly two months ago.

The anti-government armed militant groups including Taliban have not commented regarding the airstrike so far.

Helmand is among the volatile provinces in South of Afghanistan where Taliban militants are active in some of its districts and often attempt to carry out attacks against the government and security institutions.