At least 19 Taliban and 12 Daesh or Islamic State (IS) fighters have been killed and several others wounded in artillery fire and airstrikes in eastern Nangarhar province, officials said on Thursday.
Lt. Col. Sherin Agha Faqeri, spokesman for the 201st Selab Military Crops, told Pajhwok Afghan News 19 Taliban militants were killed and 13 others wounded in Afghan forces’ artillery and airstrikes in Wazir area of the Khogyani district on Wednesday night.
He said the militants suffered casualties in retaliation after they attacked a number of security posts.
Abdullah Barakzai, a resident of Khogyani district, confirmed Taliban militants launched attacks on a Afghan border forces’ base in Wazir area.
He said they could hear fire exchanges until late midnight, but he was unaware about casualties.
Elsewhere in the province, 12 Daesh fighters were killed during an airstrike in Achin district.
Governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, said the NATO airstrike took place in Bandar area of the district last night. He said civilians suffered no casualties in the attack.
Navid Shinwari, a resident of Achin district and a civil society activist, said that Afghan and foreign forces’ airstrikes against militants had recently increased. He added the airstrikes had affected Daesh militants’ movements.
The two groups have not yet commented on the incidents.
pajhwok.com
