22 Afghan forces killed in Taliban attack

  Monday, 18 March 2019

source: abna

An overnight Taliban attack on checkpoints in northern Afghanistan killed 22 troops after some 100 Afghan forces fled heavy fighting in the country's west in recent days and tried to cross into neighbouring Turkmenistan, officials said on Sunday.
AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): An overnight Taliban attack on checkpoints in northern Afghanistan killed 22 troops after some 100 Afghan forces fled heavy fighting in the country's west in recent days and tried to cross into neighbouring Turkmenistan, officials said on Sunday.
The Taliban launched the assault late on Saturday against checkpoints manned by police and pro-government forces in Qaisar district, setting off a fierce gun battle that lasted into Sunday morning said Mohammad Tahir Rahmani, the head of the provincial council in the northern Faryab province.
The army sent in reinforcements, who were among those killed. Rahmani said another 20 Afghan forces were wounded in the attack.
"The Taliban have gained control of more areas in the district" after stepping up attacks in recent weeks, Rahmani said, adding that troop reinforcements have arrived from the capital, Kabul.
Provincial police spokesman Karim Yuresh confirmed that a large number of Taliban launched attacks in Faryab, but he could not immediately provide more details.
The Taliban spokesman claimed in a tweet that Taliban fighters overran a government base and checkpoint in Qaisar. The Taliban claim 21 soldiers and militiamen, known locally as arbaki were killed. The Taliban said their bodies were left on the battlefield.
Four soldiers were captured alive, the tweet said, the rest escaped. The Taliban say they also captured a tank and many heavy and light weapons in the assault.