KABUL, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Up to 74 different types of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and landmines have been detected and defused over the last 24 hours, Afghan Ministry of Defense said Wednesday.

"Afghan National Army engineering teams launched operations to clear landmines in different provinces since early Tuesday. They found and defused 74 different IEDs and landmines throughout the country," the ministry said in a statement.

Taliban militants and Islamic State fighters have been using IEDs to make roadside bombs and landmines to target security forces, but the lethal home-made weapons also inflict casualties on civilians.

On Saturday, three civilians were killed after a vehicle they were travelling in exploded when it touched off an IED in western Herat province.