Afghan security force members take part in a military operation in Sarkanay district of Kunar province, , Feb. 19, 2018. At least three Islamic State (IS) fighters have been killed and five others injured during a cleanup operation by security forces in Sarkanay district of Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, district police chief Mohammad Shuaib said Tuesday. (Xinhua/Emran Waak)

ASADABAD, , Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least three Islamic State (IS) fighters have been killed and five others injured during a cleanup operation by security forces in Sarkanay district of Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, district police chief Mohammad Shuaib said Tuesday.

"Security and defense forces launched a cleanup operation against IS militants in Sarkanay district on Monday and so far three rebels have been killed and five others injured," Shuaib told Xinhua.

The operation will continue until the area is cleansed of insurgents, the official asserted.

IS insurgents who are active in Kunar and the neighboring Nangarhar province have yet to make comment on the report.