Kabul, July 5, (dpa/GNA) – Taliban militants killed at least 16 members of the Afghan army in the country’s western province of Herat, officials said on Monday.
The militants attacked a base in Chisht-e Sharif district overnight, local council members Ahmad Karokhi and Sardar Bahaduri said.
The Taliban have a presence in many districts of the province, including Chisht-e Sharif, and stage attacks on security forces quite often.
The Taliban have dramatically intensified their campaign ahead of the full withdrawal of US forces from the war-ravaged country.
The militants seized at least 28 districts in at least eight provinces over the weekend, according to officials.
As US troops withdraw, the Afghan security forces on the ground are likely to face serious problems due to a lack of air support.
The Afghan Air Force has been built up over years, however its capabilities are not comparable to its US counterpart.
GNA