Senior Taliban leaders among 5 killed in raid

The military did not identify those killed during Friday night's strike, the latest in a mounting wave of violence, which was launched in the village of Qala Sak of southern Helmand province, near the border with Pakistan.

"Among those killed were key senior leaders of the Taliban network who have conducted attacks against coalition and Afghan forces, Afghan officials and civilians," the military said in a statement.

"This was a highly successful mission based on solid tactical intelligence and coordinated joint ground and indirect fires," it said, quoting US military spokesman Lt. Col. Paul Fitzpatrick.