Baghlan: Afghan security forces said today that the Taliban have suffered heavy causalities in Baghlani-e Markazi – 8 insurgents have been reported killed, and a dozen wounded. A military base was also recaptured. One Afghan policeman was reported injured. A resident reported that two children and a woman were wounded due to a rocket hitting their house.
Helmand: According to a US Army spokesman, hundreds of US troops have been deployed to the province to prevent the Taliban from overrunning several districts. According to the spokesman, the US troops will provide security and act as advisers to the Afghan Army’s 215 Corps.
Herat: Militants clashed with border police in the Kalata Nazar area of Shindband district, leaving five of them dead, a police spokesman said.
Farah: Militants attacked an ANA (Afghan National Army) checkpoint in Bakhwa district, leading to a gunfight leaving 3 attackers and 3 Afghan soldiers killed. Two other Afghan soldiers were reported wounded according to an Afghan official. The incident took place last night.
Kabul: A security guard for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry was killed today, according to officials and eyewitnesses. One eyewitness said that he saw foreign troops, likely Americans shooting at the guard. Officials at the ministry are denying the eyewitness report and termed it a “trivial incident”.
Kunduz: ANA (Afghan National Army) forces have targeted local militants and stormed several hideouts in Ali Abad district. A number of militants have been reported killed by army officials. Army commanders also said that they have found foreigners (Punjabis, Chechens and Arabs) helping the militants in province. However, the acting provincial governor admitted today that the outskirts of the provincial capital were under Taliban control.
Nangarhar: Afghan officials said today that a Taliban shadow governor (Rustam Haqyar) and 9 of his companions have been killed in an operation in the Triley and Baro areas. In Achin district, Afghan officials said that in the past 2 days, 17 DAESH fighters have been killed as a result of airstrikes and clashes with Afghan security forces. Furthermore, a governor’s spokesman said that this morning Afghan forces in the Tarili area of Rodat district killed 10 militants, including a Taliban commander (Gul Agha). Elsewhere in the Dago area of Chaparhar district, last night, 15 suspected militants were arrested, according to the police spokesman.
Uruzgan: Taliban militants reported today that around 1:30 pm local time, a roadside bomb was placed near Chora district bazaar and it struck a vehicle belonging to the district deputy intelligence chief, Jabbar Khan. The Taliban militants claim the blast destroyed his vehicle and left him dead.
Based on reporting from Khaama, Pajhwok, Tolo News, Bakhtar, RFE/RL, and Shahamat.