4 Afghan security forces personnel, 63 Taliban militants killed in recent violence

KABUL: JULY 16 – At least four Afghan security forces members and 63 Taliban militants have been killed in recent violence across Afghanistan as fighting raged in the country, different sources said on Friday.

In northern Samangan province, four security forces were killed in a Taliban attack on Rabatak security checkpoint Thursday night, Reduction in Violence, a local independent monitoring group reported on social media.

Also on Thursday night, the Afghan Air Force (AAF) targeted a Taliban gathering place on the outskirts of Sari Pul city, capital of northern Sari Pul province, killing 11 militants and destroying two vehicles, the Afghan Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Meanwhile earlier on Thursday, “20 Taliban militants were killed and 20 others were wounded in airstrikes conducted by Afghan Air Force in Shuhada district in northern Badakhshan province,” the defense ministry statement added.

Those among the killed was a Taliban’s deputy shadow district chief for Shuhada, the statement said, adding six militants’ vehicles and some amount of their ammunition were destroyed.

Besides, 32 Taliban militants were killed and 10 others were wounded in a clearing operation conducted by Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) with the support of the AAF on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, the capital city of southern Helmand province, according to the defense ministry.

Earlier on Friday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on social media that they have destroyed a helicopter of the government forces in a tactical attack on the ground in northern Kunduz province. He posted a photo on his social media account.

However, Afghan military officials have not commented on the report so far.

While the U.S. and NATO troops have been leaving the country, violence in Afghanistan is on the rise. While the Taliban have intensified their fighting against government security forces, the Afghan government security forces have also continued to press the Taliban militants.

-XINHUA