Kabul, March 29 (IANS): A key commander of the Islamic State (IS) militant group was captured and three foreign nationals of the outfit were killed as Afghan security forces' aircraft targeted its hideout in northern Afghanistan, police said on Thursday.

The attack took place in Darzab district of Jawzjan province, a police official told Xinhua news agency.

"The warplanes of security forces targeted a hideout of IS rebels in Qazal Rabat area of Darzab district late Wednesday night, killing three foreign fighters and capturing a key commander of the group named Muzafar," said the official.

Without identifying the nationalities of the foreign fighters, the official said Muzafar's capture could deal a major blow to the group in Jawzjan and adjoining areas.

Meanwhile, spokesman for the provincial government Reza Ghafori said that the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan often conduct air attacks against militants and sorties were continuing against IS bastions in Darzab and Qush Tepa districts over the past two months.