KABUL, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least seven militants of Islamic State (IS) militant group were killed following airstrikes in two eastern Afghan provinces, Afghan Ministry of Defense said Monday.

The ministry said in a statement that the targeted militants were killed after Afghan Air Force planes struck two IS hideouts in Pachir Wa Agam district of Nangarhar province and Dara-i-Pech of neighboring Kunar province on Sunday.

No civilian was hurt following the strikes in the mountainous provinces.

Afghan security forces, backed by the U.S.-led NATO coalition troops, have increased ground and air offensives against militants in the past few months as the country is preparing for parliamentary elections scheduled to be held on Saturday, Oct. 20.

During the upcoming elections, more than 54,000 Afghan army soldiers and police personnel would be deployed to provide security for 5,100 polling centers across the country.?