Seven soldiers killed in Taliban attack on Afghan army base

The Taliban militant group has killed at least seven Afghan soldiers in an attack on a military base in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh Province.

The Afghan Defense Ministry said the fatalities took place when “terrorists” attacked the base in the Dawlat Abad district of Balkh early on Tuesday.

The base is shared by the Afghan army and the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency.

“As a result of this attack, seven Afghan army soldiers died and three others were wounded. Meanwhile, in this attack, three NDS staff were also injured,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Reuters news agency, citing the district governor of Dawlat Abad, put the number of fatalities at 15.

The Taliban had a day earlier claimed responsibility for a fatal roadside bombing that targeted American and Afghan forces in northern Kunduz Province. One American soldier was killed in that attack.

SS