JALALABAD, Afghanistan, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Up to 33 armed militants were killed as government forces targeted their hideouts in the eastern Nangarhar province Thursday night, an army spokesman in the eastern region Shir Aqa Faqiri said Friday.

"Security forces launched operations against anti-government militants in Chaparhar and Pachiragam districts Thursday night and so far 33 rebels have been killed, six others injured and 22 more insurgents arrested," Faqiri told Xinhua.

Militant group commanders including Zukrullah and Gada Mohammad were among those killed in the crackdown, the official added.

Without providing information on the possible casualties of security forces and civilians, the official added that the operations would last until the insurgents are wiped out of the area.

Neither Taliban nor the Islamic State (IS) militants who are active in Nangarhar province with Jalalabad as its capital have made comment on the report.