HERAT: Hundreds of Taliban fighters stormed a district in Afghanistan’s western Badghis province, killing dozen government forces, provincial officials said.
The Taliban killed 36 members of the government forces and captured several security checkpoints in attacks that began on Wednesday night, Waris Sherzad, district governor of Bala Murghab, said late on Thursday. Fighting was ongoing, he said.
Fighting in Afghanistan has escalated ahead of the usual spring season, as both sides seek to increase leverage in talks on a peace settlement.
It attacked from four directions, capturing five security checkpoints, Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s defense ministry, in a series of tweets, said its forces chose to “tactically retreat” from the checkpoints to prevent civilian casualties.
(Agencies)
Comment