At least 17 Afghan soldiers were killed late Monday after Taliban militants overran an army base in the northern part of the country following a three-day intense fighting, a local source said Tuesday.
The clashes started last Saturday after hundreds of Taliban militants stormed and besieged the base, known as Camp-e-Chenayeeha in remote Ghormach district of Faryab province in which about 106 army soldiers were stationed.
"The besieged soldiers showed stiff resistance and fought back the attackers for the past three days but the base was captured by militants as the soldiers received no help or supplies despite repeated requests," Sebghatullah Selaab, an official from the provincial council, told Xinhua.
He said 15 soldiers were injured and five others were captured by the militants while several soldiers fled to nearby villages or mountains.
The Taliban seized 14 armored military vehicles, heavy guns, weapons and ammunition after the seizure of the base in the province, 425 km northwest of Kabul.
The Taliban-led insurgency has been on the rampage since the beginning of 2015 when the Afghan security forces assumed full responsibilities of security from the U.S. and NATO troops.
The militants also intensified attacks against security forces and staged several coordinated large-scale attacks against Afghan cities and districts after they launched a yearly rebel offensive on April 25.
In eastern Ghazni city, capital of Ghazni province, heavy clashes and airstrikes were reported Tuesday as fighting in the city entered the fifth day.
The Taliban has captured vast majority of the city after they launched a massive attack on it early Friday.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK
