Roundup: Taliban massive offensive repulsed in Afghan western city

The Afghan security forces repulsed a Taliban massive offensive in the western Farah city on Tuesday after two days of fierce fighting, a local senior army officer said.

"The enemies, after leaving 14 dead bodies behind, have retreated from around Farah city and the government security forces have been chasing them," General Mir Assadullah Khan Kohistani told Xinhua.

Hundreds of Taliban militants launched the offensive on Farah's provincial capital the Farah city 695 km west of Kabul on Monday but they met tough resistance by the government forces, the official said.

However, he admitted that three security personnel had been killed and six others injured during the counter-attack.

Cleanup operations have been continuing in the area to kill or capture the insurgents and ensure lasting peace there, the official stressed.

Meantime, the head of Farah's Provincial Council Farid Bakhtawar told local media on Tuesday that hundreds of armed militants attacked the Farah city from six directions on Monday morning and the security forces repulsed the militants.

"If the militants were able to consolidate their positions in Farah, they could easily destabilize the neighboring Herat, Nimroz and Helmand provinces," Bakhtawar warned.

Governor of Farah province Asif Nang confirmed the Taliban attack on Farah but added the "enemies malicious design" has been foiled.

The enemies' attacks had been defeated in Balablok and Dilaram districts, adding the security forces were capable of thwarting their conspiracies, he said.

The Taliban group, which launched its so-called annual spring offensive on April 24, has attacked the northern Kunduz province and left scores of people, including militants, security personnel and civilians, dead. Endi