Afghanistan’s security forces on Saturday started an operation against Islamic State (IS) militant group in the country’s eastern Nangarhar province, the Defense Ministry said. “Personnel of Afghan National Army (ANA) 201 Selaab Corps launched a joint military and cleanup operation codenamed ‘Saheen 18’ Saturday morning in close coordination with police and national intelligence agency staff in Achin district, Nangarhar province,” the ministry said in a statement. The security forces would help pro-government militiamen to deploy security checkpoints in the surrounding areas of the district and the operation will continue before the area is cleared from militants, it said. “The army air force will also provide air support to the local anti-Islamic State uprising groups,” the statement noted. The Achin district, located in the southern part of provincial capital of Jalalabad, has been regarded as the militants’ stronghold. Several dozens of the militants have been killed after Afghan army helicopters and drones of US forces carried out airstrikes in Achin over the past couple of months.