KABUL, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Two Taliban militants, including a local leader, were killed after Afghan Air Force launched an airstrike in the country's northern province of Faryab, Afghan Ministry of Defense said Sunday.

"Mullah Ayatollah, Taliban deputy shadow district governor was killed with his man and a motorbike was destroyed in Afghan National Army (ANA) airstrike in Pashtun Kot district of Faryab province on Saturday," the ministry said in a statement.

The province has been the scene of heavy clashes between security forces and Taliban militants for long.

Afghan security forces, backed by the U.S.-led NATO coalition troops, have increased ground and air offensives against militants within the past few months as the Taliban militant group has been attempting to take territory and consolidate its positions ahead of winter in the Asian country.

The militant group hasn't made a comment on the report yet.