NATO says international and Afghan forces killed five insurgents — some of them key Taliban operatives — in a series of attacks over the weekend.

NATO says in a statement issued Sunday that the troops killed two insurgents in Zabul province.

NATO said one of those killed in the attacks Saturday was a Taliban leader named Amarat accused of involvement in bomb attacks and kidnappings.

Meanwhile, NATO says its troops killed an insurgent in an airstrike in Logar province aimed at an "active Taliban leader." NATO could not confirm if the leader was killed in the attack.

In western Farah province, NATO and Afghan forces killed two insurgents as they searched for a Taliban leader. The targeted leader was not among those killed.