Sixteen Afghan policemen were killed and two others wounded on Friday in a US-led airstrike in the southern Afghanistan province of Helmand, reported Xinhua news agency, citing the provincial government spokesman on Saturday.  

The airstrike occurred around 5 p.m. local time in the Gereshk district of Helmand, where US and Afghan forces have been locked in fierce fighting with the Taliban.

"In the strike, 16 Afghan policemen were killed including two commanders. Two other policemen were wounded," the spokesman said.   

It was the latest blow to the Afghan forces in Helmand, an area where they have been suffering heavy casualties at the hands of the Taliban.

(With input from AFP)