MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 33 militants have been killed and 13 others injured during a military operation in Faryab province, north of Afghanistan, an army source said Saturday.

"The operation was launched by Afghan National Army backed by Afghan Air Force in Kohistan district south of provincial capital Maimana city on Friday," Hanif Rezai, spokesman of army Corps 209 Shaheen based in the region, told Xinhua.

Those among the killed militants were two Taliban insurgents' divisional commanders, Rezai added.

Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where Taliban have been recruiting from among the youth.

The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments on the report.