MOSCOW, July 7. /TASS/. Seven militants have been killed in the Russian North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, and the special operation is continuing, the information center of Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) reported Thursday.

"A great amount of weapons and ammunition have been discovered at the site of the clash, including two grenade launchers, a homemade bomb and a few grenades," the NAC said.

"Unfortunately, casualties among law enforcers were not avoided - one Federal Security Service (FSB) officer died and three were wounded. No one among civilians was killed or wounded," the statement said.

"Inspection of the adjoining area and a search for the possible accomplices of the killed thugs are continuing," it said.

During the active phase of the counterterrorism operation in Dagestan’s Karabudakhkentsky District, conducted by FSB special units, seven active members of the so-called Makhachkala gang, who had repeatedly killed law enforcers and civilians and committed other terrorism-related crimes, were neutralized.

The counterterrorism operation started Thursday at 03:30 a.m. Moscow Time after a report on the possible location of a group of militants. Earlier, two kilometers northeast of the village of Talgi, FSB special units encountered a group of thugs. One militant was killed, the clash area was blocked.

Russia’s law enforcement agencies continue fighting militants in the North Caucasus over 15 years since the battle phase of the second war against Islamist separatists in Chechnya came to an end in 2000. Attacks on security officials and civilians occur from time to time in Dagestan, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria.