Russia kills 49 suspected militants in North Caucasus crackdown: report
The Caucasus regions of Dagestan and Chechnya are home to dozens of ethnic groups, as well as a persistent Islamic insurgency. (Sergei Rasulov/News Team/GlobalPost)
Russia today said 49 suspected militants were killed in the restive North Caucasus region, according to Agence-France Presse.
Russia's National Anti-Terror Committee issued a statement saying the operation "helped terminate the activities of several odious gang leaders, gang members and their associates, substantially damaging the system under which the bandits operate,” according to reports by Russia's Interfax news agency cited by AFP.
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No additional details about the operation were provided, and it was not immediately clear when it took place.
Authorities said the areas of Dagestan and Nalchik, the main city of Kabardino-Balkaria, were targeted in the operation, reported DPA.
Police said they also seized a number of weapons, according to DPA.
Russia is watchful of developments in the North Caucasus, where the government is fighting an Islamist insurgency.