Afghan, coalition forces kill 9 militants

(CNN) - Afghan and coalition forces killed nine militants, including al Qaeda and Taliban commanders, in two separate operations Friday, the U.S.-led coalition said Saturday.

The first operation targeted terrorist networks in Ghazni province south of the capital, Kabul, the coalition said. Four militants were killed, including an al Qaeda commander and a Taliban commander who were "known weapons and foreign fighter facilitators," the coalition said.

The commanders were believed to have coordinated and directed militant activities against locals, government and coalition forces, the coalition said, and they were also believed to have worked with senior Taliban commanders to destabilize the region.

In the second incident, Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces doing a sweep-and-clear operation in the southern province of Kandahar came under small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire, the coalition said. The forces fired back and killed five militants.