KANDAHAR (AFGHANISTAN) - At least 23 Afghan security forces were killed in a Taliban attack on a joint US-Afghan base in southwestern Afghanistan, officials said Friday, as fighting continues amid a pause in peace talks between the insurgents and American negotiators. The Shorab military base is one of the largest military installations in the countryDetails of the heavy toll from the hours-long assault on Shorab military base -- one of the largest military installations in the country -- followed earlier claims by local and US officials that Afghan forces successfully repelled the attack, killing four militants. The pre-dawn assault, claimed by the Taliban, saw militants enter the base in Helmand province and engage in firefights with Afghan forces. Hours later, Ghafoor Ahmad Jawed, a spokesman with the Ministry of Defence, said: "The operation is over -- 23 security forces killed, 15 injured and 20 insurgents killed." Omar Zwak -- a spokesman for the provincial governor -- also confirmed the toll, saying the Taliban deployed at least seven suicide bombers who were killed during the fighting.

Source: Bangkok Post March 01, 2019 17:37 UTC