1st LD Writethru: Checkpoint skirmish kills 11 in Afghanistan
Xinhua, May 30, 2016 Adjust font size:
About 11 Afghan police personnel were killed in exchange of fire Sunday night, when Taliban attacked on security checkpoints in southern Helmand province, police said Monday.
An unknown number of militants raided the checkpoints in Bayzo area, Gereshk district, overnight, resulting in a fierce fighting for hours in the district also called Nahri Sarraj, Major General Esmatullah Daulatzai, commander of national police 505 Helmand zone, told Xinhua.
"The battle caused 11 police killed, seven wounded while seven other policemen went missing following the clashes," Daulatzai said, adding several militants were also killed and injured in the attack.
Sporadic clashes still continue in surrounding areas of the district early Monday and reinforcement troops has been dispatched to the district, the police official noted.
Helmand, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold.
The province has been the scene of heavy clashes between security forces and Taliban militants since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different areas of the country.
The Taliban urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the government. Enditem