Afghan and international soldiers claimed to have destroyed a Taliban base in an operation just outside Kandahar city overnight.
The raid on the complex about 17km southwest of Kandahar was based on intelligence that insurgents were attempting to re-establish control. An estimated 25 rebels were killed.
Elsewhere, authorities in Kandahar city say they have detained four Pakistanis on suspicion of helping insurgents build bombs.
A bombing killed three patrolling Afghan army soldiers yesterday in Kandahar's Zahri distict, and two other soldiers were injured.
And around 10 Afghan civilians were injured in a bombing in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
Freed South Koreans arrive in Seoul
19 South Koreans freed from captivity in Afghanistan have arrived in Seoul after being held by the Taliban for six weeks.
A senior Taliban leader has said that Seoul had paid $20m for their release.
The South Korean government denies paying any ransom but has been criticised for striking a deal through direct negotiations with the Taliban.
Of the 23 Koreans snatched by the Taliban on 19 July, two were killed and two were freed earlier.
