Afghan and NATO forces have overpowered Taliban militants from villages near Kandahar today.

Using immense air strikes on Thursday the forces have killed 56 Islamist insurgents. Troops hit the suburbs while around 1,000 soldiers launched a huge offensive against the rebels according to the NATO-led International Security Assistance force.

According to Kandahar provincial governor Asadullah Khaled, hundreds of Taliban were killed during the offensive. He confirmed that district had been cleared.

According to NATO officials, the operation was led by Afghan forces and involved Canadian troops. The Taliban has been lying over its huge numbers in Kandahar and have added this to their recent jail break which undermined the ability of the forces. The Taliban said on their website that a contingent of “martyrdom attackers” was in Kandahar city to attack and kill Canadian, Afghan soldiers and Afghan officials