3rd LD Writethru: Toll of Afghan army base attack rises to 135

At least 135 Afghan military personnel were killed and over 60 others wounded in Taliban's attack on an army's corps base in northern province of Balkh on Friday, a provincial source told Xinhua on Saturday.

The source told Xinhua anonymously that 10 attackers were involved in the deadly attack and the attackers stormed a dining hall and a nearby mosque where dozens of unarmed soldiers were holding Friday prayer in army's Corps 209 Shaheen.

"The attackers were disguised in army uniform. They arrived in two army jeeps and made their way after passing through the front gate," he said.

Seven attackers were shot dead by security forces following a four-hour exchange of fire, two terrorists detonated their explosive jackets while one was captured together with a suicide vest, said the source.

Further details of the incident are still forthcoming amid the absence of any official statement.

Afghan security forces' casualties have risen recently as they struggle against a surge in attacks across the country.

The Taliban insurgency has been on the rampage since the beginning of 2015, as the Afghan security forces assumed full responsibility of security from the United States and NATO troops. Endit