TBILISI, Georgia — A government official says Georgian forces have freed 10 people who were taken hostage by militants who illegally entered the country from the Russian republic of Dagestan.

Salome Makahkradze, a spokeswoman for Georgia's Interior Ministry, said the military operation against the militants at a Georgia-Russia border began Wednesday and was still under way. He said all the hostages have been released, but he refused to provide further details.

The Georgian TV station Imedi said several of the militants have been wounded in the fighting.

Georgia shares its northeastern border with Russia's Dagestan, which has been plagued by near-daily violence of Islamic militants.