KABUL, July 28 (Xinhua) -- At least nine militants were killed and 13 others wounded in two northern Afghan provinces, authorities said Saturday.

Five Taliban militants were killed and seven others wounded after Afghan army launched artillery firing against Taliban hideouts in Imam Tarakai village of Chimtal district of Balkh province on Friday, Hanif Rezai, spokesman of army Corps 209 Shaheen based in the region, told Xinhua.

On the same day, four Taliban militants were killed and six others wounded in an army cleanup operation in Dasht-i-Qala district of neighboring Takhar province, he added.

Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where Taliban have been recruiting from among the youth.

The Taliban has yet to respond to the report.